To stay connected, AFT’s retirees are “doing what we have always done”
The pandemic is giving retirees in Florida more time to connect with their community
Since the pandemic hit, Janice Poirier, the Florida Education Association-Retired president and member of the AFT Retirees Committee, can usually be found on her computer, on the phone or at her desk writing cards in an effort to stay in touch with her fellow retirees. Poirier is focused “all day, every day” on member outreach. “With the help of the FEA-Retired presidents and district directors, I have been doing a welfare check on our members,” she says.
With more than 4,000 retired FEA members in Florida — 1,300 plus who are direct members — it’s a full-time job.
“We contact them to ask how they are and if they need anything,” says Poirier, adding that, “they are very appreciative, and if they need something, we help them.”
Nancy Johnson, an FEA-Retired district director is part of the Facebook group, the Brevard Mask Makers, which includes more than 500 “Masketeers.” The group recently earned a milestone after making 25,000 masks for health facilities and community groups. Johnson has been with the group since March and estimates that she has made more than 900 masks herself. At the beginning of the pandemic, the group made masks for nursing homes and cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, but their focus has changed, says Johnson.
“Lately, we’ve been making masks for school kids and teachers. We’ve also had requests from senior organizations,” she says.
“Making masks has been great, and it definitely gives you something to do,” says Johnson, who has been staying close to home.
Retiree Roberta Zivanov is a neighborhood coordinator for the local food pantry in Palm Beach County and has been working to collect monetary donations. The pantry serves more than 300 families per week.
Retiree Sophia Youngberg likes to bake when she is stressed. “Being in lockdown, I thought I’d cheer people up with a loaf of zucchini bread. I baked for like 16 hours straight.” Two farms near Youngberg’s home sell vegetables for $10 a box. “I’ve been going there about once a week and sharing the veggies with other retirees in my neighborhood,” she says.
Youngberg also makes zucchini bread that she shares with her neighbors. “I even gave some to my mailman, and treated the workers at East Coast Farms with three big loaves to share,” she says. “I was so grateful for cheap fresh vegetables. They were grateful for the delicious bread.”
Meanwhile, Kay Brown, past president of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association-Retired has been making wellness calls to retired members on her own. She also has a thriving garden and gives collard greens to older people in her community.
Carolyn Underwood converted her laundry room into a space to sew face masks. “I delivered my first batch of masks to family members and friends who need them. Now I’m making masks for nurses for a healthcare facility down the street.”
Underwood is president of her local chapter, FEA Pinellas-Retired. She used the money from her stimulus check to buy materials for the masks. She has learned how to make at least six varieties of masks by watching YouTube. “I was inspired to make masks because I used to sew, and knew they would be easy for me to work with,” says Underwood.
Marilyn Warner says her mornings are usually reserved for walks with friends in her neighborhood. The friends use the time to exercise — with proper social distancing — and to stay in touch. “By the time I finish my walk, I have already done my 10,000 steps,” says Warner, who is a member of the Florida Education Association and the AFT Retirees Committee.
Although the stay-a-home orders have let up, Warner continues to use this time at home to take classes and cook with new recipes. Tuesday nights are reserved for Bible study and Jewish theology on Zoom; on Thursday nights, Warner takes a Hebrew class. “I am also getting ready to sign up for some free college courses online,” she says. “My daughter is a professor at the University of Texas-Dallas, and I have been able to attend her classes.”
Warner also uses Zoom at least once a week to stay connected with family. And she continues to stay in touch with other retirees by writing her local’s newsletter. “And there have been a lot of virtual meetings with different organizations on all levels — local, state and national — as we continue to do the work we have always done.”
