Members of the Yorktown Congress of Teachers recently put down their textbooks and picked up some menus, taking over a local restaurant to raise money for the Yorktown food pantry.
It was the second year that the YCT — led by President Sean Kennedy — has teamed with the Food Pantry of Yorktown Community Help and Traditions 118 Restaurant to host “Tip a Teacher Night.” More than 40 union members served food and drinks to restaurant patrons last month and donated their tips to the food pantry. The restaurant, meanwhile, contributed a portion of that night’s proceeds to the cause.
Combined from an earlier food drive and school dress-down day, the YCT was able to donate $5,000 and hundreds of pounds of food to help combat hunger in the community. The union made a similar-sized donation last year.
Kennedy vowed to increase the YCT’s presence in the community when he was elected president. He’s made good on that promise.
“The Yorktown Congress of Teachers has had a long-standing relationship with the food pantry and co-sponsors the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive,” Kennedy explained. “However, in light of these difficult times, our membership felt that we must go further to extend support to our community. The Tip a Teacher event was wildly successful last year and we (were) committed to making this year’s event even better.”
The YCT also provides financial support to two other local charities. It takes part in the Support Connection Walk in the fall to raise money for families affected by breast and ovarian cancer, and sponsors a dress-down day for a local children’s hospital.
Like many other NYSUT locals, the YCT also awards scholarships to Yorktown graduates.
Janine Gibney, a YCT officer, organized the Tip a Teacher Night. Union member Mark Grote produced the accompanying video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9blkiKESh9w&feature=player_embedded