Nov. 24, 1999

PROVIDENCE -- The membership of Local Union 1033, Laborers International Union of North America, said it has distributed more than four tons of nonperishable food to the city's 15 wards to be given to the needy for Thanksgiving.

The food was collected in a three-week drive by union members who work for the city and members outside the city, as well, the union said in a statement.

The union said that the drive was an effort by the membership to "show its appreciation for all that `We had to be thankful for'."

The food was equally distributed to locations in each ward to be given to residents, with the involvement of the ward's City Council representative, the union said.

The locations included:

Fox Point Boys & Girls Club --
Councilman Robert Clarkin,
Ward 1.

Providence Community Action --
Councilwoman Rita Williams,
Ward 2.

Camp Street Ministries --
Councilman Kevin Jackson,
Ward 3.

Da Vinci Center --
Councilwoman Carol A. Romano,
Ward 4, and
Councilman Peter S. Mancini,
Ward 14.

St. Pius, St. Augustine, Blessed Sacrament churches -- Councilman Patrick Butler,
Ward 5.

St. Teresa's Church --
Councilman Joseph DeLuca,
Ward 6.

Silver Lake and Hartford Community Centers --
Councilman John Igliozzi,
Ward 7.

West End Community Center --
Councilman Ronald Allen,
Ward 8.

Democratic Association -- Councilwoman
Josephine DiRuzzo,
Ward 15.

Elmwood Community Center --
Councilwoman Patricia A. Nolan,
Ward 9.

Washington Park Community Center --
Councilman Luis A. Aponte,
Ward 10.

Urban League --
Councilwoman Balbina Young,
Ward 11.

John Hope Settlement House --
Council President John J. Lombardi,
Ward 13.

Mary's House --
Councilman Terrence M. Hassett,
Ward 13.

The Town of North Providence, North Providence School Department, Narragansett Bay Commission, Town ofLincoln, Town of Narragansett, Town of North Kingstown, City of Cranston, Providence/Cranston Job Partnership Training Act, the Civic Center, Providence Community Action Program, and the Providence School Department, as well as the local's City of Providence membership and affiliated Local Union 225 membership employed by Sodexho Marriott in food services and maintenance operations at Providence schools.

The union said it has 3,600 members.