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SCRANTON — Because low-income students in the Scranton School District are unable to have their school meals due to the teachers’ strike, the American Federation of Teachers and the Scranton Federation of Teachers are organizing fundraising and local food drives to help families.

More than 900 teachers and other school staff went on strike Sept. 25. About 80 percent of the district’s 10,000 students are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch at school.

“For some children, a meal at school is the only one they can count on, and we don’t want that interrupted,” says AFT President Randi Weingarten in a prepared statement. The AFT sent out a national fundraising appeal to purchase food for families during the strike.

The Scranton Federation of Teachers also is collecting food from area residents.

“As we work to obtain a fair contract that’s good for educators and students, we also have to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of our students,” Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland said in a statement.

Boland plans to deliver food donations on Thursday to the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen at 500 Penn Ave., Scranton.

Financial contributions can be made here: http://aft.to/ScrantonMeals.

Food donations can be dropped off at the Scranton union office—431 Wyoming Ave.—and will be delivered to local food pantries and the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen.

Staff Report