CWAers Spread Union Cheer Throughout the Year

In 2024, CWA members and retirees gave back to their communities in countless ways. Below is a brief list of some of the charitable giving and community outreach efforts by Locals and individuals who went above and beyond to help others this year. We’d love to spotlight your local’s work: click here to tell us about your local’s community service efforts.

CWA Local 1036’s’ Community Services Committee donated supplies and food to the Burlington County Animal Shelter in Westampton Township, N.J.

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CWA Local 2204 members on the Norton Child and Family Services team put together 52 birthday blessing boxes for the local food bank to distribute. They also partnered with Family Crisis Support Services in Norton, Va., to provide supplies for their homeless shelter and domestic violence shelter and, for the tenth year, supported the special needs community at the annual Special Needs Fall Ball.

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CWA Local 3519 delivered “comfort bags” to various cancer centers for people undergoing chemotherapy treatments. Each bag contained a donated book, a bottle of water, and a puzzle book or quick craft supplies.

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This past October, CWA Local 4009's Community Service Committee organized a heartfelt event at Focus: HOPE in Detroit, Mich., where members and their families united to pack food boxes for seniors in the surrounding areas. Their generosity and commitment to the community exemplify the true union spirit, ensuring these seniors have what they need throughout the holiday season.

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Members of CWA Local 6300 sponsored a toy drive, along with a personal care item/gift drive for those in need. Some of the donations will go to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots program, and other toys, as well as personal care/gift items, will go to Pony Byrd, which serves over 1,100 individuals with disabilities and their families in St. Louis, Jefferson, and Franklin counties. Members also presented the United Way of Greater St. Louis with a $6,000 check from the proceeds of the union’s annual golf tournament.

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CWA Local 7026 members, retirees, friends, and family in Tucson, Ariz., helped firefighters pack and deliver 755 holiday food boxes for families in need.

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CWA Local 9586 sponsored the City of Norwalk’s Department of Social Services in their Angel Tree Project. In addition, the Women’s Committee went to the elementary school to help wrap donated toys for the project.

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CWA members didn’t just donate gifts and supplies to those in need. In 2024, two CWAers went above and beyond the call of duty to help others in need. 

In an extraordinary act of bravery, CWA District 9 Staff Representative and Staff Steward Robert Longer (pictured at right) put his life on the line to save his elderly neighbors from a life-threatening house fire. Robert, without hesitation, sprang into action, checking first on the husband, who had escaped the home. Robert then entered the house, battling intense heat and smoke, making several trips as he searched for the wife. After locating her, he carried her outside to await medical and fire services.

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In August, Kevin Tenkhoff, a 19-year AT&T Customer Service Technician and member of CWA Local 6316, shared details of an incredible moment that took place in October 2023. While working a job at a residence, Kevin heard cries for help coming from the other side of the house. He rushed over and found Helen Parli unconscious. Kevin performed CPR until medics arrived. Helen later learned that she had been technically dead for four minutes and that Kevin’s assistance had kept her brain oxygenated, likely saving her life.