HELPING HANDS

In addition to the teams of union emergency services and medical workers conducting rescue and aid missions in New York and suburban Washington, DC, union volunteers are contributing their skills, funds and even blood.

Iron Workers:  More than 1,000 Iron Workers from the mid-Atlantic and New England area have volunteered their services for rescue, recovery and cleanup in New York.

Other building trades workers:  The New York City Building and Construction Trades Council reports working around the clock with about 1,000 people assisting in New York's rescue and cleanup work.

MEBA and Seafarers:  MEBA members and Seafarers are aboard the U.S. Navy hospital ship USNS Comfort on the scene in New York.

Food and beverage donations:  The New York State AFL-CIO and Food and Commercial Workers Locals 342-50 and 1500 arranged and loaded batches of donated food, water and other beverages for delivery to Fire Fighters on the scene.  The New York State AFL-CIO has coordinated with the Frito Lay Co. -- Burger King, KFC and Taco Bell -- to deliver food to rescue workers.

International union organizations:  The AFL-CIO and affiliated unions have received hundreds of messages of support from international union federations.  Visit www.aflcio.org for details.

Offering prayers:  Employees of Washington-area unions and other concerned citizens joined AFL-CIO headquarters staff for a memorial moment of silence at noon on Thursday, September 13, featuring faith leaders from several religious traditions.