Ryan Long

I am a proud cement mason in Local 555 and I learned about this agency a couple of years ago when my kids and I faced an unimaginable tragedy. The mother of my children suddenly passed away completely unexpectedly. 

During that period, I was still an apprentice and I was working full-time to support my family. Even after learning the horrible news, I continued showing up at the job site daily because I needed money. My union president Geoff Kossack eventually came up to ask me why I wasn't taking any time to be with my family with all that was going on. I knew deep inside he was right and that I needed to be with my little girls to help them process the loss of their mom, but I just couldn't see any way that I would be able to take time off, especially now that I was the only working parent.

Geoff was so helpful and caring and said that he knew of an agency that could assist me while I was facing this destabilizing event. I had never gotten any kind of help like this before and honestly, couldn't believe that this kind of help existed for union trade workers. I was really grateful to be referred to them. 

LCSA helping out with my rent was a tremendous relief! Labor’s Community Service Agency gave me the ability to, not only grieve but to be with my children, it was one of the nicest things that’s ever happened in my life. It was a silver lining to a horrible time. A lot of people give condolences, which were very much appreciated, but LCSA gave me something that I will never forget and had my back when it mattered most. It seriously felt like a miracle with all that I had falling down on me at that moment. 

Times were especially hard back then too. I didn't have a lot of money or savings and with losing a loved one comes a ton of unplanned expenses. Money was super tight. I was even more sad because Christmas was approaching, my girls had just lost their mom, and I knew that without money, this holiday would be an added disappointment in their lives. I was so stressed, wondering how in the world I would be able to manage getting through all this. Then, pretty amazingly, shortly after they helped with my rent, Labor's Community reached out again to ask me if I would like to participate in their holiday program. I was completely overwhelmed with gratitude and appreciation. 

I still get emotional, even to this day, thinking of the joy that was on my kids’ faces when they received those gifts. My youngest were 3 and 6 at the time, and they were screaming, “Santa Came!”. They were so happy! LCSA made my kids' Christmas so meaningful. And this meant the world to me, you don’t even know. My whole life revolves around my kids. And it’s all about the spirit of the holiday. LCSA put that back in my home at such a difficult time. This took a ton of stress off of me, alleviating some of the sadness of thinking I wasn’t going to be able to provide for them on Christmas day. But they made it happen for me and my family. I mean, even I was included in the gifts, wow! I was even able to buy some much needed items with the gift card provided. I mean, LCSA went above and beyond! They even brought my kids gifts all the way to my house in Eugene! And It’s those little things that they do to show people that they matter, and what they are going through matters. 

The assistance gave me so much faith in humanity and helped me to move forward by keeping my spirit up. I truly believe that all the love and support I received from LCSA and my union, Cement Masons 555, helped me through to becoming a journeyman. Without the underpinning support at that time, I could have very easily burned out from being totally overburdened and could have dropped out of my program. This whole thing could have caused me to lose everything I was working so hard for. 

The hardship services that LCSA provides could really be the difference between somebody being able to achieve all their dreams through their hard work or giving into their hardship and quitting everything because it's just too much to face alone, you know?

It’s those little acts of kindness that can change the course of people's lives forever.

Labor’s Community was that difference in my life. In hard times a person can begin to question things around them, and I feel like I was at that point. But looking back, I can say with confidence that I was able to journey out because they had my back. No doubt. I was able to pick myself up and put myself back together for my family and my career with everyone's support and complete my apprenticeship.

LCSA inspired me by showing me they care about what people go through. If sharing my story can help people understand how important this agency is to apprenticeships and labor unions, I will gladly let people into my life, to see how they made an impact when it mattered most. 

So thank you Labor’s Community Service Agency! Your work matters and is definitely making a difference!