The Retired Teachers Chapter goes the distance to stay connected to its members — 71,097 retired UFT members who live all over the country as well as in Puerto Rico and Israel.

More retirees than ever are looking for support from the UFT Welfare Fund Retiree Social Services Department since the start of the pandemic. Some need practical, concrete assistance with food delivery or referrals for home care, while other who are overwhelmed by the threat of the virus need emotional support as they struggle with anxiety and isolation.

There has been a surge in registration for Si Beagle courses as classes switch from on-site to online and retirees become remote learners.

The 7,500 UFT retirees who live permanently in Florida, as well as thousands of winter part-timers known as “snow birds,” continue to await the reopening of the remodeled Florida Retiree Center in Boca Raton, the busy hub that serves them all.

Facebook is becoming an important tool for RTC sections as they step up their efforts to help members stay connected during these trying times.

The Retired Teachers Chapter continues its extensive outreach to its 70,000 members across the country to help ensure their health and safety in the pandemic.