After Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in September of last year, 50 students whose schools could not remain open came to Worcester to be hosted by Worcester Public Schools. About 30 of them have joined the community at North High, and they were in need of supplies such as toiletries and warm clothing for the winter. For the SHARE 20th Anniversary celebration at Memorial Hospital, our party planning committee and Executive Board decided to raise money for the North High students with our raffle at the party!
With the generosity of everyone—SHARE members, HR business partners, managers—who donated baskets and bought tickets, we were able to raise $521. We used the money to create toiletry kits and buy warm socks and gloves for the students. The Worcester Teacher’s Association (WTA), the union for the teachers at North High, generously donated gift cards for the students as well.
On February 12, SHARE members and SHARE organizers took a trip to North High to drop off these donations. We were able to meet some of the students from Puerto Rico, their teachers and guidance counselors, and the person who has been coordinating all aspects of the students’ time here in Worcester. It was so powerful to meet and spend time together, and we had a good time, too!
SHARE members know that our community is strong when we take care of each other, and we were so happy to work in solidarity with members of the WTA at North High. Caring for our community helps keep unions strong in Worcester!
