Friday, March 31, 2023

Play

Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury, Georgia campaign fights to reopen local hospitals, and New Mexico creates first-ever $100M conservation fund.

Play

Former President Donald Trump is indicted by Manhattan's district attorney, House Republicans take aim at renewables in new energy bill and House Dems introduce the Women's Protection Health Act.

Play

Small towns respond to a hidden housing and homelessness crisis, a new national weather prediction system will help close the gap between urban and rural forecasting, and more rural communities are eligible for a design project to boost economic development.

HEAL Grant Bolsters Workers' Center Programs in Central NY

Play

Monday, July 11, 2022   

An organization in Central New York is getting a funding boost to help workers who are still struggling with the financial effects of the pandemic.

The Workers' Center of Central New York says it will use a new grant from the HEAL Food Alliance to help with some of the unexpected expenses its members can't cover, due to rising costs and transportation issues.

Workers' Center Executive Director Jessica Maxwell said the need is great.

"We see a lot of workers still in really precarious situations, especially affording things like dental care," said Maxwell. "We just helped somebody with some dental expenses, for example. Accessing food pantries - we have a lot of rural members in isolated areas and transportation has been really expensive right now."

Since the pandemic began, the Workers' Center has added services such as food delivery. Maxwell said a network of volunteers brings food to about 100 families a month in the Syracuse area who might not otherwise get it.

The HEAL Food Alliance is a coalition of 55 organizations working to transform food systems to make them more accessible to all.

Maxwell said the Workers' Center usually has in-person meetings to develop relationships with their clients. However, with numerous members in rural areas without reliable transportation, she said virtual meetings have become a trusted alternative.

"Really taking advantage of technology to be able to do remote consultations, video consults," said Maxwell, "to help people with paperwork, or facilitating a meeting online - is something that's really, in some ways, opened up a lot of access to people who would have trouble getting to an in-person meeting."

Even when the pandemic is over, Maxwell said she hopes to continue the Center's virtual presence and other programs. However, she noted state elected officials appear to have split feelings about just where New York is in terms of the pandemic.



Disclosure: HEAL (Health, Environment, Agriculture, Labor) Food Alliance contributes to our fund for reporting on Environment, Livable Wages/Working Families, Social Justice, Sustainable Agriculture. If you would like to help support news in the public interest, click here.


get more stories like this via email
Parents, students and teachers are raising concerns over proposed education policies in the Sunshine State. (Pixabay)

Social Issues

Some students, parents and educators plan to rally to send a message to Gov. Ron DeSantis on April Fools' Day. The group of unions, parents and …


Health and Wellness

Small-business owners in North Carolina are reaching out to legislators for help, citing hospital mergers as one reason their health-care costs are …

Environment

A REASONS TO BE CHEERFFUL/SOLUTIONS JOURNALISM NETWORK/WISCONSIN NEWS CONNCECTION COLLABORATION Milwaukee is tied to a wave of freeway removals in th…


Initial money through the American Rescue Plan Act provided education funding to 140 school districts in Tennessee to support post-pandemic academic recovery, student mental health and schools' ability to reopen safely. (f11photo/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

Tennesseans aren't the only ones mourning the tragic loss of three children and three adults at this week's shooting at Nashville's Covenant School…

Health and Wellness

Doctors in Iowa are studying the brains of babies to learn more about sleep patterns in adults and teens. The United Health Foundation reports one-…

While more than 3,500 people have been awarded the Medal of Honor since it was created by President Abraham Lincoln, only 65 of them are alive today. (The White House)

Social Issues

While National Medal of Honor Month is ending, plans to develop a museum and monument for the award are continuing. Numerous Medal of Honor …

Social Issues

Construction of the Medal of Honor Museum and Foundation is under way in Arlington, Texas - a place to pay tribute to those who've earned the …

Social Issues

Labor leaders in various industries recently celebrated the 85th anniversary of a federal law that laid the groundwork for registered apprenticeship p…

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021