Members Receive AFT Hurricane Disaster Relief Grants
Texas AFT has begun presenting hurricane disaster relief grants to members. Grant checks are in the amount of $250 and are intended for school employees who suffered financial hardships due to Hurricane Ike. The $250 checks are being provided as part of the American Federation of Teacher's Disaster Relief Fund, which was built on donations from school employees across the nation in the wake of the hurricane.
"There is still a long way to go for many on the road to financial recovery after the hurricane's devastation, but these checks will help them make ends meet, particularly in the tough financial times we're facing," said Linda Bridges, Texas AFT president.
Bridges said more than 20,000 members—about a third of the state federation's members—live in the Texas counties that were declared disaster areas following Ike. Members in those areas were eligible to apply for the relief grants, which are now being distributed. Additionally, AFT received some 5,400 applications for relief for a total of $1.4 million related to Hurricanes Ike, Gustav, and Dolly, along with recent fires in California and floods in Ohio.
A reception was held in La Joya at the La Vista Hotel at 6:00pm on Thursday, February 12, 2009. Texas AFT state president Linda Bridges attended. She spoke about the current legislative session and helped handout relief checks to members. For more informatiion about the event, contact Mr. JJ Luna, at 802-9439