APWU Gives Relief To Members Affected by Hurricane Sandy

The union has distributed $59,750 from the APWU Disaster Fund to 14 union members who suffered devastating losses as a result of Hurricane Sandy and to the family of Lenny Montalto, Human Relations Director Sue Carney has announced. Montalto, who served as an officer of the Staten Island Local, lost his life in the storm.

The 14 union members who received grants were from the North Jersey Area Local, New Jersey Shore Area Local, Trenton Metro Area Local, Brooklyn Local, Rockville Centre NY Area Local, and Western Nassau NY Area Local.

Grants were issued to APWU members who are currently displaced from their homes or whose homes were destroyed. To be eligible, recipients had to be APWU members and their name had to be submitted to the APWU by a union representative, EAP counselor or management official — self submissions were not accepted.

Grants ranged from $2,000 to $5,000, depending on whether the employee’s home is expected to be habitable again in the future, the number of people living in the household when the disaster hit, and whether any vehicle loss was suffered.

The union also issued refurbished laptops to the members if they indicated they had a child in high school or attending college that lost a computer in the storm.

“We must continue our efforts to raise money for the Postal Employees' Relief Fund to ensure there is funding available to help all of our members and co-workers who suffer a significant loss to their primary residence as a result of a natural disaster, severe storm or house fire,” Carney said. “While many have donated, and their generosity is appreciated, PERF reports indicate the non-profit organization has only received $84,394.12 in tax-deductible contributions since Hurricane Sandy hit. That's simply not enough to keep the Fund viable considering the gravity of devastation wielded by this storm.”

Postal employees can make a $10 tax-deductable donation to PERF by texting PERF to 50555. Online credit-card contributions can be made at www.postalrelief.com. Donations can also be mailed to:

The Postal Employees Relief Fund
P.O. Box 7630
Woodbridge, VA 22195

“As postal workers and proud union members we have much to be thankful for this holiday season,” Carney added. “If you have not found the time to make your contribution yet, please do so now — your assistance is still desperately needed.”