USW Local 620 hosts cookout for annual "NOLA to Angola" bike ride

The United Steelworkers Local 620 Union in Gonzales, LA held a cookout on Friday for participants of this year's "NOLA to Angola" bicycle ride. The union hall was one of NOLA to Angola's stops on their annual three-day, 170-mile bicycle ride fundraiser. Each year, NOLA to Angola starts their journey with a press conference in front the New Orleans Municipal Courthouse, then they bike from Orleans Parish to Angola Louisiana State Penitentiary. NOLA to Angola will make stops in Gonzales and St. Francisville before reaching Angola, biking in solidarity with families who travel long distances to connect with their incarcerated loved ones.

USW Local 620Photo byAlysse Fuchs

Hosting a cookout for NOLA to Angola is just one of the various charitable events that the USW Local 620 holds during the year for their community.

Photo byNOLA to Angola Instagram

Alysse Fuchs, who is an organizer of the event said, "We are just a community of regular people who collectively decided to do something out of an effort of love for those who have been incarcerated." She hopes they are able to motivate others to do something to connect with those who are incarcerated as well.

Funds from the donations raised in this year's ride will help support Cornerstone, Daughters Beyond Incarceration, The Rise Collective and REMILA. To learn more go to NOLA TO ANGOLA.

To learn more about the United Steelworkers Union, go to United Steelworkers (usw.org)