Delaware Valley teachers union gives big time to the community

The 367-member Delaware Valley Education Association came up with a three-tiered plan at the start of the pandemic: stimulate the local economy via small businesses, support charities that were struggling, and thank essential workers in Pike County.

The teachers union has given more than $39,000 to the community since Covid-19 hit.

The union came up with an inventive way to reach their goals. They spent $2,250 at locally owned restaurants to provide meals for essential workers, first responders, and medical personnel. This helped businesses supplement their loss of revenue while expressing appreciation to the people that keep the community going.

To help the most vulnerable community members, they contributed to local food pantries, the residents of Heritage Pointe senior living apartments in Matamoras, Pike County Autism Support Services, and local veterans’ groups.

Marty Gurian, the union’s coordinator of teacher-veterans activities and contributions, recently presented the DVEA’s latest gift to the community, $1,650 to the National Wild Turkey Foundation, which helps physically compromised veterans to hunt and fish.

The foundation offers guided turkey hunts in Pike County, supplying veterans with clothing, guides, lodging, and meals. Local business owners, such as the Malibu Dude Ranch and Myers Motel, also assisted.

The union also made donations to Vetstock and the Wounded Warrior Program. For the last two years, the National Wild Turkey Foundation donated to the Wounded Warrior Outdoor Adventures to provide turkey hunts and retreats in upstate New York. Participants stay in furnished cabins at Camp Serenity and use the lodge at Operations Grateful Nation.

Gurian is an Army veteran who served in Europe during the Cold War.

The union also committed charitable donations to six local volunteer emergency response companies.

“Our students do not exist in a vacuum, they exist in our community, so it is vital that we as a Teachers’ Union help support our community,” said DVEA vice president Kayla Troast.

“We want to see our students be able to thrive in every aspect of their lives,” she said. “So by helping our community we continue to help our students outside of the classroom.”

President Lisa Addio said DVEA has been committed to helping the community through its philanthropic fund since the union began.

“We consistently donate to local food pantries, outreach programs, veteran’s associations, libraries, scholarships, and other community programs that help the families of our students,” she said. “Our goal as teachers is to make sure our students thrive, and that begins at the community level.”