1199SEIU & Community Partners To Pack Thanksgiving Baskets, Boxes Of Food & Supplies For Working Families
November 18, 2025
WHO: 1199SEIU, Healthcare Education Project, Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), and Second Baptist Church
WHAT: Healthcare workers and community partners pack baskets and boxes of food and supplies collected for working families and community members in need
WHEN: Thursday, November 20 anytime between 10:30AM-11:30AM
WHERE: 259 Monroe Ave, Suite 220, Rochester, NY 14607
WHY?: As the historic government shutdown ended this week, 42 million Americans[1] were without critically needed Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to feed their families, including local healthcare workers. Rochester healthcare workers are among those impacted by recent delays to SNAP. Some service and bedside nursing home, hospital, and homecare workers earn below a living wage[2] and qualify to receive SNAP benefits to help feed their families.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, 1199SEIU, the largest healthcare workers union in the country began a food drive across multiple cities and states including Rochester. As the Rochester food drive concludes this week, local caregivers are hopeful to provide food to 20 working families with a full Thanksgiving meal including all the trimmings. Any additional food collected will be boxed up and provided to community members in need.
1199SEIU and community partners did not just collect food for holiday meals, but also collected non-perishable items such as rice, pasta, canned goods, feminine and hygiene products, baby formula, and toiletries.
The food drive kicked off last week and will run through Thursday, November 20th. There are multiple donation drop off points across the city as well as Medina:
1. 1199SEIU at 259 Monroe Ave, Suite 220
2. Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation, AFL-CIO, 30 N. Union St, Suite 100
3. Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU), 740 Driving Park Ave
4. Second Baptist Church, 957 George Street, Mumford, NY 14511
5. Medina Memorial Hospital, 200 Ohio St, Medina NY 14103
Thanksgiving baskets and boxes to local healthcare worker families will be delivered shortly before the holiday. For more information on how to donate, please call 585-244-0830.
On background:
While two federal judges[3] have ordered SNAP to be fully funded, it was uncertain whether the current administration in Washington would comply with the order to do so or how long those funds will last to support people experiencing food insecurity. The Trump administration later withdrew their request to pause SNAP payments.[4]
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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in America. We represent over 400,000 nurses and caregivers throughout Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Florida. Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.