October 25, 2023 — Over the past few years, between a pandemic and inflation, the number of people in need across the country — and New York State — continues to grow. The rising costs of food, clothes, gas, and housing take a toll.
There is an easy way for PEF members to volunteer and donate to those who need a helping hand.
The New York State Employees Federated Appeal (SEFA) works closely with the United Way to allow PEF members to easily give small donations from their paycheck to support the charity of their choice.
“This is a state employee-based organization,” said Bill Ferguson, chairman of the Finance Committee at SEFA and a PEF member. “This is not the governor’s program or run by management, this is all run by the employees! By civil servants.”
Ferguson works for the Department of Economic Development as a Program Specialist 2. He is also a PEF Division 262 Council Leader and holds a seat on the PEF Executive Board. Ferguson believes in SEFA’s work and says that the organization thrives because others do as well.
“It’s all the state employees,” he said. “Colleague to colleague.”
Thomas Wickerham is a retired state employee. He worked with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation as a Program Specialist 2. He has been a part of SEFA for more than26 years and was elected to the Statewide SEFA Council in 2015. He also serves as the chair of the Greater Rochester Area SEFA Committee. Like Ferguson, he believes in SEFA’s mission.
“We’re just two run-of-the mill employees trying to help our community,” Wickerham said.
Ferguson and Wickerham want to assure PEF members that none of their donations go anywhere except to the charities members designate.
“The magic of this is that donors can choose even as low as $1 to be deducted from their paycheck,” Wickerham said. “They choose the charity, the Comptroller’s Office collects the money, United Way—whom we partner with—collects the money from the Comptroller’s Office and distributes the money from there.”
The United Way has local agencies across New York State that partner with local SEFA committees. Together, the committees and volunteers review and vet the charities and make sure the money is distributed properly.
The benefits of the SEFA campaign go beyond the local communities. Since state workers at agencies across New York are the ones volunteering and working to make sure the campaign continues, many of those who participate also trained build skills that they then take back to their agencies.
“SEFA trains leaders,” said Ferguson. “Organizing, presentation, team building and problem solving — those skills make state workers better, stronger and more efficient.”
Ferguson credits PEF and other unions as critical to SEFA’s success.
“PEF has always been a pillar of support. Past presidents have worked with us many times,” Ferguson said. “PEF are leaders in the state workforce and with SEFA.”
While the SEFA campaign has no formal date, it does typically ramp up from September to December with the option for donation and pledges to be given year-round.
Ferguson and Wickerham both recognize that the past few years, and even the past few months, have been a struggle for communities, but say that the show still must go on.
“The needs are great without question,” Ferguson said. “But that just reinforces the work and how our campaign plays a role in helping each other and our communities. The SEFA Campaign fills the gaps where government programs cannot.”
Pledges can be made by visiting this SEFA pledge page. Likewise, SEFA has a list of all the Charities and Federations with whom they currently partner on this Charities and Foundations page.