(609) 646-9814

You can save lives! When utility companies pull the plug on ratepayers with breathing machines, or other electric-powered life sustaining medical equipment, when insurance companies refuse to cover necessary care, when anything threatens the lives of our membership, ESWA advocates jump into action. You can learn how to fight to keep a member’s lights on, how to expunge medical debt, how to help workers win back unpaid wages, and fight government and corporate denials to the most vulnerable members.

Currently, 95% of the lawyers in the country work for the richest 1% of the population. Low-income and unemployed workers generally go without legal recourse because they are not able to afford the high cost of legal fees. ESWA volunteer attorneys meet individually with members to provide free-of-charge legal advice and information, with a legal benefit caseworker available to assist. Volunteer attorneys also present periodic Know Your Law sessions on a variety of topics, including landlord-tenant law.

Teams of ESWA volunteers are canvassing door-to-door in low-income neighborhoods to make ESWA membership and benefits available, overcoming isolation and discouragement to unite low-income service and seasonal workers into strong organization that builds collective solutions to the problems we face. The membership canvass is the primary way for ESWA to reach new members.

ESWA members may enroll in the association’s budget-saving Benefit Plan II program and participate in free-of-charge supplemental food distributions featuring fresh produce, non-perishable items and other nutritional foods. Volunteers are needed year-round to pick up, sort, box and distribute food to enrolled members.

Volunteers assist with sorting and organizing clothing, doing benefit intakes and assisting members in filling their clothing requests. ESWA’s beautiful Benefit Office needs volunteers daily to maintain the facility and sort items to make it easy for members to find what they need. New clothing is especially needed, and during the winter months warm clothing will save lives.

Volunteer dentists provide non-emergency dental care for ESWA members and their families. Volunteers are needed to do dental benefit intakes, advocate for members during sessions and work with the member and the dentist to fill the benefit request.

After decades of working on our feet, many of our members have trouble staying on them! Volunteers are needed to do medical benefit intakes, advocate for members during sessions and work with the member and the volunteer podiatrist to fulfill the treatment plan.

You can play a part in keeping all of ESWA’s thousands of members, volunteers and supporters updated on the latest victories made by the organization! If you can fold, paste, tape, cut, staple, or glue, you can participate!

Volunteers set up information tables in front of grocery stores, at local community events and other locations to promote ESWA so that others can join our cause. This is one way ESWA enlists new friends and participants to come in and make a difference. Please call if you can volunteer or if you know of a location where ESWA can set up an information table.

Volunteers are essential to all of ESWA’s activities year-round. Volunteers conduct group telephone training sessions to call members about upcoming benefit activities and re-contact interested individuals met on community outreach about participating with ESWA’s organizing activities scheduled each week.

ESWA volunteers and members speak to college classes, clubs, faith congregations and other groups to teach about the economic problems ESWA’s members face and how people from all walks of life can participate in building solutions from the bottom up.

ESWA produces posters, event flyers, invitations, a quarterly independent newsletter and a sponsors guide. Low-income workers have a lot to say about the status quo, and volunteers are needed today to write and publicize those stories!

ESWA’s organizing drive is revitalizing South Jersey, and we need more space to keep up with our expansion! Whether you have a professional skill or want to learn from those who do, volunteers are needed to renovate ESWA’s buildings.

As a material manifestation of hope for South Jersey’s service workers, we take great pride in the appearance of our facilities. Volunteers are needed to vacuum, mop, sweep and sort, because first impressions count!

ESWA volunteers learn how to conduct outreach to the business community, many of whom have a shared interest in the lowest-income service and seasonal workers having wages that enable them to spend money in the local economy and patronize the merchants that need their business to survive. 

With more than 50% of food-insecure households working full-time jobs, ESWA is always collecting non-perishable food items. Supporters can inspire neighborhood food drives, or food collections in their workplace or place of worship.