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11-Point Membership Benefit Program >

MEMBERS HELPING MEMBERS

ESWA’s 11-Point Membership Benefit Program is built by and for members to meet material needs as expressed by ESWA’s membership council, where delegates from the membership can provide input into the working of their Benefit Program.

A woman smiling while receiving a box of vegetables

Benefit Program

Meet Day-to-Day Needs

ESWA members have built an 11-Point Membership Benefit Program to meet some of our immediate survival needs with the support of students, doctors, lawyers and small business owners, while we organize together for long-term change.

Self-Help

Members help members through ESWA’s Benefit Program, running food distributions, advocating against utility disconnections and deciding on actions through the Workers Benefit Council to bridge income shortfalls.

Mutual Benefit

We have a motto: If you need a benefit today, it’s available. And please come back tomorrow to help the next member get along. That way, members utilize the Benefit Program and as soon as they are able, return to make it possible for other members to get the help they need, and we grow stronger together.

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“The primary purpose of the benefit program is to make it possible for us to organize to eliminate the cause of our problem — poverty— at its roots.”

— ESWA motto

BUILDING OUR TOMORROW,

TODAY

A man bags food
A group of people hands off bags of food
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A group of ESWA volunteers sort food

EMERGENCY & SUPPLEMENTAL FOOD BENEFIT

Non-perishable food items are available for ESWA members upon request of an emergency food benefit to aid with immediate needs. Members can also enroll in a year-round budget savings program, which includes weekly fresh grocery distributions.

A man and a woman smile next to trunk of food
A dentist next to two dental assistants work on a patient

NON-EMERGENCY DENTAL CARE BENEFIT

Volunteer dentists and other dental professionals volunteer their services through ESWA’s non-emergency dental benefit. Other volunteers donate transportation and other needed follow-up determined by the professional. Volunteer dental professionals also provide group presentations on health topics of interest to the members.

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PREVENTIVE MEDICAL CARE BENEFIT

Volunteer doctors and other medical professionals donate their services through ESWA’s preventive medical benefit to see members for free-of-charge medical check-ups in their offices and present medical education and information sessions on medical topics like diabetes.

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LEGAL ADVICE BENEFIT

“Know Your Law” sessions conducted by volunteer attorneys present information about legal topics of interest to low-income workers as requested by ESWA members. Legal advice is provided to a requesting member privately in legal advice sessions with a volunteer attorney accompanied by a volunteer lay advocate to assist with the next steps of the attorney’s advice.

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An ESWA member smiles while giving a girl a scarf

CLOTHING BENEFIT

Clothing of all sizes and seasonal needs is available at your local Benefit Office (call ESWA for hours).

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