Last weekend, the Eastern Service Workers Association conducted their annual Tamale Benefit to support their Winter Survival Campaign. From Thursday to Saturday volunteers made and delivered fresh Mexican tamales at Calvary United Methodist Church in West Philadelphia.
The benefit is a new way for the organization to better reach out to the Latino community in the city. Scheduling also coincided with Super Bowl Sunday to take advantage of the parties all around the city. Chicken and vegetarian tamales were available to order in dozens and half dozens.
All food was donated from a produce market and from volunteers. Hundreds of each tamale were made, with orders being delivered all around West and South Philly.
The organization dedicates its efforts to getting benefits to its members, low-income workers who need assistance with utility bills, medical care, food, legal advice, and clothes. Operating from their South Street office, they've been advocating for service workers for over thirty years. After weeks of snow and below freezing temperatures, ESWA understands better than anyone the importance of heat and working electricity when you flip a switch.
"It's criminal that anyone should be evicted in this weather," says the branch's director Frida. ESWA members have been evicted, had gas shut off unexpectedly, and been diagnosed with fatal medical conditions. All of which are problems the organization has personally addressed, either directly with companies, or at local counsel meetings to speak on behalf of members.
The group prefers to spread by word of mouth, either by canvassing in low-income neighborhoods, or on college campuses like Temple University, where volunteer coordinator Bernard often visits as a guest speaker in classes. "We don't want people to feel isolated. We Want that personal contact. That's why we don't have a website."
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