AFSCME Relief Team Makes a Difference in the Midwest

by   |  June 27, 2008

AFSCME members are meeting the emergency in the Midwest head on – helping with relief and repair efforts. They are also providing aid to our own members who were affected by the floodwaters and the storms, losing their homes and their possessions. The AFSCME Midwest Relief and Recovery Team – a group commissioned by the International Union in Washington, D.C. – has been working closely with our affiliates in the region to assist our brothers and sisters. Photos and more details below. You can help by making an online donation to AFSCME's relief fund.  The team – headed by Gloria T. Caoile (right) – talks to tornado and flood victims in Cedar Falls, Iowa, providing immediate cash assistance to about 18 members (mostly University of North Iowa (UNI) workers) who suffered losses and damages to their homes. Council 61 President Danny Homan joined their efforts and personally assured our members of the International Union's support. An F-5 tornado ripped through Parkersburg at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 25. Of the 900 residents, 350 lost their homes. Terry Drewelow (left), a UNI custodian and member of Local 2659, stands in front of the ruins of his 1902 Victorian home. Terry and his wife Darla survived the tornado by crouching under a table in the basement. "The tornado was four miles away when we got a call to evacuate," Terry recalls. "But within two minutes, we heard the sound of a freight train so we rushed to the basement. We figured our life was over." Three other members suffered total losses. Eight people died that Sunday evening when the tornado hit Parkersburg. Local President Rod Baker (right), who lives in another part of town, suffered only minor damages to his house. "This is where my house used to be," Terry says, who is determined to pick up the pieces and rebuild. Several of his co-workers came down to assist the victims immediately after the tornado. Before heading back to Des Moines, the Relief Team assured Rod Baker that Council 61 and the International Union will be there for our members and assist in their recovery. Now it’s time for the rest of us to help our brothers and sisters. Your generosity will make a real difference. Make a secure online contribution now or send a check to: AFSCME Fallen Heroes Fund 1625 L Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036-5687 (Photos by Jon Melegrito, a member of the AFSCME Midwest Relief and Recovery Team)