From Cape May to Sussex County and everywhere in-between, New Jersey 1199ers are taking action to spread the word about why Senator Barbara Buono and 1199SEIU Executive VP Milly Silva, the Democratic candidates for Governor and Lt. Governor, are the right choice to lead New Jersey.

Over the past several months, 1199ers have hosted community barbeques, held rallies, registered friends and family to vote, written letters to local papers, and canvassed their neighborhoods.

As Election Day, November 5, draws closer, members have been ramping up their efforts. In just the past three weeks, member volunteers have made thousands of door-knocks and phone calls in cities and towns across the state, discussing with voters the importance of electing candidates whose agenda supports working families.

“We need to help people understand that voting does make a difference, that it does make change happen,” explains George Johnson, a dietary aide at Cranford Health & Extended Care Center in Cranford, NJ. “Unless working people get out to the polls, we’ll be stuck with politicians who turn their backs on us.”

The weekend of October 11th-13th was an especially busy one for 1199SEIU members.

On the evening, October 11th, dozens of 1199SEIU members joined a lively campaign rally at Kean University in Union, NJ, prior to attending a debate between Milly Silva and her Republican opponent, Kim Guadagno. At the debate, Milly Silva laid out the key priorities of a Barbara Buono administration—fixing New Jersey’s broken economy, getting people back to work, and making sure that the will of the majority of New Jerseyans is respected when it comes to important issues like raising the minimum wage and marriage equality.

“Milly drew a clear contrast between the vision of the future shared by the majority of New Jerseyans and the out-of-touch values and priorities of Governor Christie,” said Geraldine Ballantine, a certified nursing assistant at Teaneck Nursing Home in Teaneck, NJ. “Barbara and Milly will deliver the change that New Jersey families are calling for.”

On Saturday, 1199SEIU volunteers hit the pavement in Union County to talk with voters about the gubernatorial race as well as the upcoming special U.S. Senate election on October 16, in which 1199SEIU has endorsed Newark Mayor Cory Booker.

Toi Campbell, a Laundry Aide at JFK Hartwyck at Cedar Brook in Plainfield, NJ, was among the dozens of 1199ers who participated in the canvass. “As union members, we need to be out there for candidates like Senator Buono and Mayor Booker who support the working class. And for the first time ever, we have the chance to elect one of our own—Milly Silva, a fellow 1199er. That’s why we’re out here this afternoon.” By the day’s end, 1199ers had knocked on two thousand doors.

To finish off their weekend of action, members attended on Sunday an Hispanic Heritage Month celebration in Elizabeth, NJ, hosted by Assemblywoman Annette Quijano. Guests included Senator Barbara Buono and Milly Silva, Mayor Cory Booker, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, and Chair of the Democratic National Committee Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

“We’re fired up and ready to go!” said Glenn Hamilton, A Recreation Therapist at Newark Extended Care in Newark, NJ. “On October 16th and November 5th, we’re going to elect candidates who are for all the people, not just one set of people at the very top.”