Tomorrow: 1199SEIU leading car caravan across NJ to salute nursing home workers

WHO: 1199SEIU union members and staff, community supporters, and nursing home workers serving on the frontlines during the COVID-19 pandemic.

WHAT:  Some two dozen festooned with signs and messages of support for nursing home workers will visit dozens nursing homes during a two day caravan beginning Wednesday, making short stops and slow drive-bys at nursing homes, where workers will come out to celebrate each other.

WHY: Thousands of nursing home workers in New Jersey have put their health on the line to care for nursing home residents, despite working for low wages and often without adequate staffing, supplies, and PPE.  The caravan is a way to show support for those heroic caregivers during this dangerous time and to celebrate their lifesaving work.

GREAT VISUALS AND SOUND: A long line of cars, an RV and sound truck all decked out with colorful signs; healthcare workers in uniform in front of their workplaces.

Photos that press may use will be posted to twitter.com/1199SEIU_NJ. Credit: 1199SEIU

QUOTE:

George Gresham, President of 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East:

“Every day for the past three months, New Jersey’s nursing home workers have made incredible personal sacrifices to keep our state’s most vulnerable people cared for.  They have worked under extreme hardship—often without adequate staffing and PPE—putting their lives on the line in the service of others.  Today we celebrate their heroism and give thanks on behalf of our loved ones, friends, and neighbors who rely on compassionate nursing home care.”

DATES AND LOCATIONS:

(For an ETA on when the caravan will arrive at a particular location, call 732-606-5949 on the day of.  Routes/facilities may change due to unforeseen circumstances).

Wednesday, 6/17

Participants will convene at 7AM to decorate vehicles and the caravan will kick off at 8AM sharp from the parking lot at 246 Livingston St, Northvale, NJ 07647.  It will move through Bergen County, Essex County, and then through Hudson County by afternoon.

Locations with press availability are:

• Bergen County:
  • 8AM kickoff- parking lot at 246 Livingston St, Northvale, NJ 07647
  • Actor’s Fund, 155-175 West Hudson Ave, Englewood, NJ, 07631

• Essex County:
  • Forest Hill Care Center, 497 Mount Prospect Avenue Newark, NJ, 07104

• Hudson County:
  • Alaris Health at Boulevard East, 6819 Boulevard E, Guttenberg, NJ 07093

Thursday, 6/18

The caravan will leave at 8AM from the parking lot at 555 Rt. 1 South, Iselin NJ 08830.  It will move through Middlesex, Union, Somerset, Mercer, Burlington, and Camden Counties.

• Middlesex County:
  • 8AM start: parking lot at 555 Rt. 1 South, Iselin NJ, 08830
  • Alameda Center, 303 Elm St, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861

• Union County:
  • Westfield Center, 1515 Lamberts Mill Rd, Westfield, NJ 07090
  • Cranford Rehab, 205 Birchwood Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016

• Camden County:
  • Voorhees Center: 3001 E Evesham Rd, Voorhees Township, NJ 08043

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1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East is the largest and fastest-growing healthcare union in New Jersey and nationwide. We represent over 16,000 healthcare families in New Jersey and over 450,000 total members throughout New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C.   Our mission is to achieve quality care and good jobs for all.