UFCW Local 342 Members Prepare Holiday Meal at Calvary Chapel

Members of UFCW Local 342 recently volunteered at Calvary Chapel Island of Grace in Holbrook to help prepare a Thanksgiving meal for underprivileged children and their families.

The union represents nearly 10,000 workers in the retail food, wholesale food processing, distribution and manufacturing industries. Local 342 members work at employers ranging from A&P, Pathmark, Waldbaum’s, and Food Emporium, to Stop & Shop and King Kullen as well.

Whether it was carving turkeys, slicing pies, or cooking vegetables, Local 342 members performed whatever actions necessary to ensure that these families will have a Thanksgiving meal to remember, according to a statement from UFCW.

For Cathy Maerz, a long time Local 342 member and Shop Steward, the significance of lending a helping hand as the holidays approach was not lost.

“Preparing meals for those in need during Thanksgiving is special,” said Maerz, a Stop & Shop worker, said in a statement. “I really enjoyed being a part of this.” 

This year marked the first that Local 342 members participated in hands on servicing for Thanksgiving meals. Traditionally, they donate thousands of dollars in turkeys, canned foods, and dry goods to local charities, but this year, the union wanted to take its acts of generosity a step further.

“Our members are always generous with food donations for Thanksgiving, but they really wanted to do more this year,” said Kelly Egan, Local 342 Safety, Education, Cultural, and Activities Director, in a statement. “Local 342 is truly an organization that focuses on helping those in need throughout our communities, and the pure altruism of our membership allows us to do that better than most,” Egan proudly concluded.