MEMBER FOCUS
Feature: Have-a-Heart Month
Humanitarian Fund impacts recipients and donors alike
Make a donation during CSEA’s Have-a-Heart Month
When classified workers support each other, gaining safer working conditions, job security, and increased wages is possible through the collective solidarity of their union sisters, brothers, and siblings.
But what happens when you need emergency support outside of the job? For CSEA members, help can be found through the Dorothy Bjork Humanitarian Assistance Fund.
Since its founding in the mid-80's, CSEA’s Humanitarian Assistance Fund has provided emergency financial relief to CSEA members undergoing difficult times.
“Every February, CSEA celebrates Have-a-Heart Month to honor the vision that CSEA Past President Dorothy Bjork set forth to uplift members living through their most dire moments,” said Association President Adam Weinberger, who also chaired the Humanitarian Fund Committee.
“We call it ‘Have-a-Heart Month’ because these donations come from the hearts of our members. At the end of the day, CSEA members always look out for each other," said Britney Nichols of San Jacinto Chapter 189.
When Bjork set out to create a fund to support members, she likely couldn’t imagine the challenges now facing our members.
Today’s CSEA members are enduring unprecedented times: from increasing wildfires and floods due to climate change, the reeling effects of a pandemic, and the ever-increasing challenge of making ends meet.
Yet, this is where Bjork’s vision of a true humanitarian fund by members, for members, continues to shine: helping countless CSEA families who will all benefit from the donation you make to the Dorothy Bjork Humanitarian Assistance Fund during Have-a-Heart Month.
“We call it ‘Have-a-Heart Month’ because these donations come from the hearts of our members. At the end of the day, CSEA members always look out for each other."
- Britney Nichols, San Jacinto Chapter 189
‘My family has been forever changed’
(left to right) Flood devastation and car damage experienced by the Nichols family
For Britney Nichols of San Jacinto Chapter 189, her life was turned upside down when a string of back-to-back events transpired in the fall of 2022. Beginning with a major car accident, which destroyed the bumper and hood of her car, and brought financial hardship of paying the insurance deductible.
Soon after, Nichols and her five children contracted COVID which forced her to taking time off from work. But despite already dealing with financial and health challenges, a tragic event occurred that would ultimately affect her entire community.
“While my family and I tried to recover from COVID, the Fireview Fire happened,” said Nichols, who works as a Data Management Technician for the San Jacinto Unified School District. “I later reported to work to ensure our students and families in San Jacinto had the assistance I did not. I had to relocate during this time to protect my family.”
The Fairview Fire would end up burning 28,307 acres in Riverside County, destroying 35 buildings during a severe heatwave and prolonged drought that would affect countless families living in the area.
Once Nichols returned home, she discovered a waterpipe had burst during the fire and the entire house was flooded. To say this was just another unfortunate tragedy for the Nichols family would be an understatement, the hard times seemed to keep piling on with no end in sight.
“This was far from a natural disaster, it was a nightmare,” Nichols admitted. “It still wasn’t enough after dealing with an asthma diagnosis and a hospitalization. My family has been forever changed.”
After speaking to her CSEA representative, Nichols was informed about programs that could help her. Here was where she learned about CSEA’s Humanitarian Assistance Fund for the first time, finding the assistance and support she needed.
“She walked me through the website and encouraged me to share my story. Truthfully, I thought no one really cared. And as horrible and unrealistic as it seemed, no one was going to come and assist me, and I was left to save myself.” said Nichols, who received emergency financial assistance from the fund.
“I hope that most CSEA members would look for or be provided with knowledge about CSEA resources, not only for themselves, but also to share with others in need. We are a family at CSEA. And the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund and many other resources show and prove that.”
“This was far from a natural disaster, it was a nightmare,” Nichols admitted. “It still wasn’t enough after dealing with an asthma diagnosis and a hospitalization. My family has been forever changed.”
- Britney Nichols, San Jacinto Chapter 189
'It was so overwhelming'
Gracie Martin of Modesto Chapter 7 never thought she would lose the love of her life. For the last 40 years, Martin and her late husband Wallace “Wally” Martin did everything together.
From raising children to becoming grandparents, Martin says her husband’s support was the driving force that kept her going throughout the trials and tribulations of life.
On August 27, 2022, Martin’s husband unexpectedly passed away due to a massive heart attack while performing his regular elliptical exercise at the gym.
Shock and awe could not describe what she was going through – this was pure devastation.
“His death hit me so hard; he was my husband and companion for over 40 years, always supporting me in every way. A giving, loving and amazing father and grandfather,” said Martin, who works as a bilingual family services specialist for Modesto City Schools. “My life will never be the same without him.”
Grieving loss requires empathy, time, and effort. As a CSEA member for 30 years, her union family has always been there when she needed it. But what followed suit was a chain of financial and mental health challenges that has impacted Martin to this day.
“When I lost him, I was in shock. And then reality began to set in — I no longer had his paycheck to see me through and I started going down the rabbit hole,” said Martin.
Gracie Martin's late husband, Wallace Martin
“What would I do about medical insurance and my monthly financial household commitments? Everything you can imagine began to overshadow the fact that I had just lost the love of my life. It was so overwhelming.”
For years, Martin has known about CSEA’s Humanitarian Assistance Fund and the positive impact it had on victims of tragedies. Like hundreds of other CSEA chapters, Modesto Chapter 7 has donated thousands of dollars annually; she just never thought it would be her on the receiving end one day.
So, when Martin’s chapter president suggested that she should apply for help, Martin reached out to CSEA and received the financial assistance she needed.
“From the young lady who took my initial call with compassion and care to the committee who read my story and approved the help, thank you. To say I am touched by the generosity I was shown by the gift is an understatement,” said Martin.
“The gift gave me hope and was a reassurance that I am not alone. I have a family in CSEA. Thank you all for making sure our brothers and sisters in need can find hope.”
“His death hit me so hard; he was my husband and companion for over 40 years, always supporting me in every way. A giving, loving and amazing father and grandfather. My life will never be the same without him.”
- Gracie Martin, Bilingual family services specialist, Modesto Chapter 7
‘We help each other, that’s what unions are about’
Ken Anderson serves as Chapter Political Action Coordinator, Alternate Director for Area B, and sits on the Conference Committee.
Today, Bjork’s vision is shared across the Association. Every February during Have-a-Heart Month, CSEA members reach deep into their hearts, and their pockets, to help CSEA members with the unknown predicaments that may lie ahead.
Celebrated during Have-a-Heart Month and highlighted by the annual Humanitarian Fund bucket pass at conference, members like Ken Anderson of Vallejo Chapter 199 believe in Bjork’s vision of lending a helping hand because they care.
“I honestly don’t remember the first time I heard about (the fund) but I remember hearing about the impact it had on members who lost everything and were helped by it,” said Anderson, head custodian with the Vallejo City Unified School District.
“A couple of years ago for my birthday, I did a Facebook fundraiser for the fund with a goal of $100. I was overwhelmed when it reached $500!! I was truly humbled to have raised that amount because I know tragedy can happen to anyone at any time.”
Anderson’s act of kindness is just one example within the bigger picture of CSEA’s long-running assistance fund. The support and kindness among members run far deeper than just being coworkers: they become family.
“I know a couple of folks (the fund) has helped, and in many ways, the fund goes beyond natural disasters. One of my chapter members received assistance when her son was gunned down in a drive-by shooting,” said Anderson.
“Tragedy could happen to any of us at any time, I am real happy that our union is there to help any member in need. We help each other, that’s what unions are about.”
- Ken Anderson, Political Action Coordinator for Vallejo Chapter 199, Alternate Director for Area B
Application Process
If you find yourself in need of assistance, here is the application process:
1. Fill out the application here. Submit it to humanitarian@csea.com or call 866-ITS-CSEA (487-2732) and Member Benefits will walk you through the details.
2. Provide supporting documents, such as past due bills. For example, if a member is applying due to a loss in the family, attach funeral bills and/or a death certificate with the application.
3. After the application is submitted, it will be reviewed and, if needed, the member will be contacted for additional documents that help demonstrate need.
4. It is then sent to the Humanitarian Committee for review and final approval
5. Once approved, the member is notified
Ways to Donate
- Donate Online: Use our easy-to-use online donation form
- Donate by Check: Please send your donation to:
Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund
2045 Lundy Avenue
San Jose, CA 95131
- Donate by Phone: Call CSEA Member Benefits 866-ITS-CSEA (487-2732), option 1
- Donate by Payroll Deduction: give a small amount each pay period
New Humanitarian Fund Logo
Last summer at the 96th Annual Conference, the Humanitarian Fund Committee unveiled a new, updated logo that personifies the place and purpose of the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund, bringing CSEA’s humanitarian passion to the modern era.
The new logo, combined with CSEA Past President Dorothy Bjork’s mission, represents both the generosity of member donors and the empathetic struggle of members undergoing unspoken tragedy.
In designing the new logo for the Dorothy Bjork Humanitarian Fund, the Committee knew it must include a heart both because members already associate it with the Humanitarian Fund and because it represents the care and support members show to each other through the Fund.
The new design adds another key element - a home. This was added to represent both components of the Fund: the heart represents the humanitarian fund, which helps members when they need general assistance; and the home represents the emergency assistance fund, which is specifically for assisting members who have suffered a loss to their home.
As we celebrate Have-a-Heart Month in February, the new Humanitarian Fund logo serves as a rallying point for CSEA members to support each other through the toughest of times – bringing Bjork’s mission to the forefront.
As we enter a new year full of promise and possibility, we hope you see your fellow CSEA family members in the logo: a union that takes care of each other.
