Labour reaches out
Written: Oct 20 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Volunteer workers, donations from many unions.
Cons: In our rich province, there should not be hungry people.
The Bottom Line: The Labour Day Barbecue for the Unemployed is a rewarding charitable event, with many eager volunteers.
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| tuggy's Full Review: Charity Organizations |
12 years ago, I was the vice-president of the Edmonton and District Labour Council, an umbrella organization for local unions. We got to discussing Labour Day, September 1, at one of our meetings, and decided that we needed to reach out to the community and do something to help. We thought it would be appropriate to have an event to help unemployed people in our city.
So, we planned the first (and soon to be annual) Labour Day Barbecue for the Unemployed. I offered to make most of the arrangements, since I had done a similar event at a previous job. My boss was most understanding as I spent much working time finding free food and willing volunteers for the barbecue.
I booked an inner city park with lots of space and a playground for the children. Then, I started to bother my various contacts for donations of food. Several of our unions were involved in the food industry and were able to get donations of ice cream, hamburger buns, and cold drinks. Other unions donated money, and I scrounged for the best bargains for the things I needed. I had a very small budget and had to make the most of every cent I had. The Edmonton Food Bank helped out as much as they could.
Volunteers were a bit reluctant, but I managed to assemble a reasonable crew for set-up, cooking, serving, visiting and clean-up. We also invited friendly politicians to serve and visit with the guests.
The weekend of the barbecue we worked so hard to set things up as we wanted them, and then just hoped for good weather and a good crowd. We got both. We had advertised in the neighbourhood that we would start serving at noon, and by 11 am there were people lined up all across the park. The sun was shining, and the children played in the wading pool.
We served hamburgers and hotdogs with the appropriate condiments, cold drinks, baked beans, and some fruit. Ice cream bars were passed around by the politicians later in the afternoon. The food was well received, and many people got doggy bags to take home.
The firefighters union sent a fire truck for the kids to play on, and the food workers donated a freezer truck to keep the perishables safe and cold. The postal workers donated a truck to help us tote around supplies. It was a group effort that made the day a success.
All in all, we feed about 3,000 hungry men, women and children. For many of them, this was the only meal of the day. Quite shocking in our very rich province of Alberta.
The first Barbecue for the Unemployed was such a success that it has become an annual event which gets national television and print media coverage. It has expanded and grown, and runs on a stable budget with plenty of volunteers. We added entertainment for the adults and children, and supplemented the menu with various additions.
I'm very proud of this event. It shows the concern of the Labour Movement for people who are not as lucky as us. We all realize, though, that true success would be if no one was hungry, and if no one came to eat. We keep working towards that goal, but in the meantime, on September 1 we provide a good hot meal for about 4,000 of Edmonton's hungry citizens.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
tuggy
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Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Reviews written: 64
Trusted by: 64 members
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