As the Foundation for Working Families prepares to help its 1,000th family in need, contributions are needed to sustain this critical effort.

SEATTLE (Aug. 3, 2020) — The Foundation for Working Families is the charitable nonprofit formed by the affiliated unions of the Washington State Labor Council, AFL-CIO to assist working families in times of hardship or disaster. As you can imagine, the FFWF has been quite busy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The FFWF has been giving $300 Fred Meyer gift cards to families suffering extraordinary hardship and will soon deliver its 1,000th gift card since the outbreak took hold in March. That’s nearly $300,000 in donations to help folks get through difficult times.

“I don’t have a permanent place at this point. We stayed in a motel sometimes, but it’s not safe there any more,” wrote James in Tacoma. “My main goal right now is providing for the safety and welfare of my family.”

Generous contributions to the FFWF from the Seattle Foundation, multiple unions and rank-and-file members are making a real difference. And the families the FFWF is helping are extremely grateful for that assistance.

“I appreciate the Foundation for Working Families for such a wonderful gift,” wrote Joan, in one of many thank-you notes the FFWF has received in recent weeks. “The Foundation is a blessing in these times. I hope that it will be over soon and we can all return to work.”

“My son and I want to thank you for the gift of hope — food & groceries!” Tammy wrote. “We will remember the loving acts of kindness and support that came from people like you.”

“I can’t thank you enough for the incredibly generous Fred Meyer gift card,” Jessica wrote. “I used it to make a HUGE shopping run of groceries that will help my family and me for a long time. We are so grateful to you for your support during this strange and difficult time.”

Because the WSLC covers all administrative and overhead costs of running the FFWF, 100 percent of contributions — every single dollar — goes directly to people in need all across Washington state.

“The Foundation for Working Families is an important part of the WSLC and its affiliated unions’ work,” said WSLC President Larry Brown. “Helping families get through difficult times, like many are experiencing amid this pandemic, is what unions have always done. We lift each other up, particularly when some of us are struggling, so we can get through those hard times and ultimately share in the prosperity we have created together.”

Contribute to the Foundation today!

“The Foundation is very proud to be able to provide a helping hand to union families who are suffering, thanks to generous donations from unions and rank-and-file members across Washington state,” said the WSLC’s Karen White, who serves on the FFWF Board of Directors. “But we have been receiving dozens of requests for assistance per week and we’re struggling to help as many people as possible. We need the help of all unions and rank-and-file members in our state who can afford to lend a hand. Please consider making a contribution.”

CONTRIBUTE! — Contribute online or mail a check to the Foundation for Working Families, 321 16th Ave S., Seattle, WA, 98144. The FFWF is a 501(c)(3) organization — federal tax ID 91-1702271 — so all donations are tax-deductible charitable contributions.

Families can apply for FFWF assistance by downloading its Hardship Assistance Form. Assistance is not restricted to union members and their families, though they are given priority. For more information about the FFWF, email Karen White or call her at 360-570-5169.