On a normal day, Donna Ragland, originally from Columbus, OH, works as a food service manager for Columbus Downtown High School, a job she’s performed for the past 24 years. These days, as the coronavirus pandemic sweeps across the nation, Donna, who is also the vice president of OAPSE Local 143, is on the front lines bringing information, resources, and solace to members of her union and of her community.

“We…let the public know they need to stock up on medicine and food and keep some cash on hand. We pay attention to the elderly and make sure our kids are well fed. We make sure to clean everything thoroughly and keep in touch with our locals throughout the city,” she says.

As her local’s VP, Donna takes the responsibilities and well-being of her members seriously, and understands how valuable a union community can be – not only in times of extreme hardship, but at all times: “I am glad that I am a part of this union. As I reiterate to the staff, these are times you can look upon your union and be grateful that they’re there. It’s a safety net that not a lot of people have. I keep reiterating these are the things we are fighting for on a daily basis…This is one of those times I am glad to be sticking with my union.”

Read more about Donna and the work her union is doing in support of their local community during COVID-19 here.