CLEVELAND, November 15 — The BLET New Jersey State Legislative Board, in conjunction with Teamsters Joint Council No. 73, is soliciting donations to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy.
“As you are aware, thousands of families in New Jersey within the jurisdiction of Joint Council No. 73 have suffered physically and economically from Hurricane Sandy,” wrote Alphonse Rispoli, President of Joint Council No. 73. “One of our members lost his life and Teamsters’ homes have been lost or severely damaged; personal property has been destroyed; and many are homeless, without food and shelter. All need our help.”
Brother Matt Kronyak, Chairman of the BLET New Jersey State Legislative Board, is asking BLET members who wish to help to consider making a donation to the Joint Council No. 73 Food Bank/Sandy Relief Effort.
Brother Kronyak is helping to coordinate a food drive this weekend to help those in need. He and the Joint Council leaders are planning for the long term, putting together a list of impacted members who have children so that the donations can be used to help give the kids a Merry Christmas this year.
The Joint Council No. 73 Food Bank is a charitable 501(c)3 corporation, which has been authorized to provide economic as well as physical assistance to all Teamster and BLET members and their families in their recovery from losses suffered by Sandy.
Donations should be made payable to “Joint Council No. 73 Food Bank / Sandy Relief Effort” and mailed to the Joint Council office at: 150 Morris Ave., Suite 204, Springfield, NJ 07081. Questions should be directed to Joint Council President Rispoli at (973) 467-9100, or to Brother Kronyak via email, mcmkronyak@aol.com.
If you are a BLET member living in Connecticut, New Jersey or New York, then you may be eligible for financial assistance from the Teamsters Disaster Relief Fund if you have suffered a loss due to Sandy. Information about how to apply for aid is available on the BLET website, www.ble-t.org/disaster.
Additionally, the U.S. Railroad Retirement Board is offering aid to all railroaders who may be out of work due to Superstorm Sandy. That information is also available here on the BLET website.