MEMBER FOCUS
Have-a-Heart Month
Since the early 2000s, CSEA has celebrated February as Have-a-Heart Month, when CSEA comes together to take care of members who need it most.
CSEA is here to help! Members who are facing a natural disaster or personal tragedy can apply for financial assistance. The Assistance Fund helps members going through some of the toughest times of their lives and is entirely sourced from member donations.
Named and founded by longtime CSEA leader Dorothy Bjork, the Dorothy Bjork Assistance Fund provides financial relief to members in need and is disbursed through two different programs: the Emergency Assistance Program and the Humanitarian Assistance Program.
Dorothy Bjork was elected CSEA state president in 1984 and adopted the theme "We Are Family'' for the union.
"Our members' concern for one another was a big part of my being so active," Bjork said. In that spirit, she led a disaster relief effort during 1986, when floods devastated CSEA members in northern California.
Association President, Dorothy Bjork (center) at rally defending classified employee pensions.
Susan Zarate-Sandoval, a member of Imperial Unified Chapter 565, applied to the assistance fund when her family experienced an emergency.
“When we experience hardships, although we want time to stop, we know financially our bills won’t stop,” said Zarate-Sandoval. She reflected that the Assistance fund helped ease the stress of those bills and made a difference.
“CSEA takes care of their own,” she said, “And [the Assistance Fund] is another way to show how we are united, and we’re a family.”
Support for the Assistance Fund doesn’t come from union dues—it relies solely on donations from our CSEA family. If you’ve already made a donation, thank you for your generosity. If not, please consider how much your contribution will be appreciated by those members in need.
How You Can Help
While donations are accepted year-round, February’s Have-a-Heart Month is when we highlight the fund and the vital services it provides. If you’ve never donated before, now is the perfect time to join your fellow members in making a difference. Every dollar contributed goes directly to helping your union siblings who might otherwise have nowhere to turn.
To donate, simply visit csea.com/assistance. Even a small contribution can have a profound impact on someone’s life. Together, we can ensure that no member has to face hardship alone. And if you ever find yourself in crisis, you can apply for assistance at this same link.
Application Process
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 you are 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, you 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, you will be notified.
