Volunteers holding frozen turkeys for Thanksgiving distribution.
ESWA canvass team with 3 volunteers on a sunny day
An ESWA volunteer hands a member a turkey for Thanksgiving
A group of members and volunteers in a church kitchen prepare tamales for the annual Super Bowl Tamale Benefit.
Two ESWA volunteers in winter clothing sign up a member on the street
A crowd of 30 children and parents enjoying the annual membership Safe and Sane Halloween Party

SEASONAL CAMPAIGNS

A group of members sorting and selecting clothing from a long table with clothing laid out

Winter Survival Campaign

  • Collect and distribute blankets, jackets, winter coats, scarves, hats, gloves and boots for ESWA members and their children

  • Join the winter canvass campaign to reach members and potential members in their homes, where many risk no-heat situations or other emergencies

  • Collect safe space heaters for loan and distribution

  • Collect high-protein and other staple foods for distribution: peanut butter, cereal, rice, soups, vegetable oil, eggs, beans, lentils

  • Join the Winter Watch phone tree to keep in contact with members in vulnerable situations

A member supervises two smiling girls coloring and decorating eggs at the Spring Family Celebration

Spring Expansion Campaign

  • Help run ESWA’s annual Spring Family Celebration and Children’s Egg Hunt to help build unity among members and allies in the community

  • Help run food drives to collect cereal, rice, beans, tomato products, eggs, cooking oil and vegetables to offset expenses for food so members can pay down debts acquired during the winter

  • Begin supply drives for fans, air conditioners and other items to help members keep cool in the heatwaves to come

  • Host speaking engagements in your classroom, house of worship, club meeting or other assembly to spread the word

A canvass on a summer day , two ESWA volunteers sign up a new member on her porch

Summer Survival Campaign

  • Join Summer Survival canvasses and go door-to-door in low-income neighborhoods where members have invited ESWA to sign up new members

  • Help organize medical education and information sessions with volunteer professionals about how workers can stay healthy in the summer heat

  • Collect and distribute water, brimmed hats, light-weight shirts, sunscreen and personal hygiene items

  • Collect and distribute fans, window AC units and dehumidifiers

  • Advocate to stop deadly utility shutoffs

ESWA volunteers and members sort and pack a room full of Back to School supplies for the distribution to membership families as part of ESWA's budget saving program

Back-to-School Campaign

  • Help collect and distribute school supplies and new and like-new school clothing and children’s coats for ESWA members and their children

  • Learn to advocate for members to overcome barriers to enrolling their children in school

  • Volunteer on outreach at local college and university campuses to recruit students who want to get involved

A volunteer Santa Claus stands on a chair to the children at ESWA's Holiday Family Party

Holiday Campaign

  • Help organize a Trick-or-Treat for Service Workers neighborhood food drive and a Safe and Sane Halloween party

  • Collect and distribute Halloween costumes for children of members enrolled in a participatory budget-saving program

  • Collect turkeys and all the fixings, and holiday food, for Thanksgiving and Holiday Food Basket Benefit distributions in November and December and deliver them to members

  • Collect toys for distribution to members for their children for private family gift giving

  • Organize a Family Holiday Party for member families