Women-Led Labor Group Raises Thousands For Dubuque Food Pantry

The Women’s Committee for the 11th District IBEW has turned economic uncertainty and public health concerns around the coronavirus pandemic into an opportunity to boost a Dubuque food pantry, raising funds through bottle and can collection and private donations to help families in need.

The women’s committee, organized last November to bring together IBEW women in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri, announced this week they raised $2,325 for the Dubuque Area Labor Harvest.

The primary goal of the women’s committee is to bring attention to the unique challenges female union members face in their workplaces. Outside of work, the women find ways to give back in their communities.

“One of the many functions of the women’s committee is their ongoing dedication to non-profit organizations in their respective areas,” the group said in a statement.

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The Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, in business nearly 40 years, provides packaged boxes of perishable and refrigerated items one Saturday per month and breakfast on Sundays.

The group noted that, due to the pandemic, businesses are not accepting can and bottle returns. To capitalize on the monetary reward once redemption centers reopen, committee members collected cans and bottles to turn in for donations to the Labor Harvest and have challenged local businesses to match the donations.

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Black Hills Energy contributed $1,000 to the Labor Harvest and IBEW Local 204 donated $1,500 to be distributed between Dubuque Area Labor Harvest, Food Pantry of Central Iowa and the Backpack Program in Colfax.

By Elizabeth Meyer
Posted 7/11/20

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