This year for Thanksgiving, the Western Maine Labor Council delivered over 40 baskets of food for local laid-off workers and their families as part of the now statewide Solidarity Harvest project that began eight years ago in Bangor.

Solidarity Harvest is an important way to support fellow workers and community members during tough economic times. The baskets were filled with everything for a Thanksgiving meal, and a majority of the food came straight from local farms, an important way to support jobs in our state.

For a lot of Maine workers who have lost their jobs in this economic downturn, there are few sources of stability and security as we head into the cold of winter. Worrying about bills, planning ahead, trying not to lose your house and the ever discouraging job search can leave people feeling depressed and with a sense of hopelessness. Now, they have even one more thing to worry about, and that’s losing unemployment insurance benefits along with much of what they have worked so hard for.

Unemployment insurance is a crucial lifeline for Maine families. Despite the fact that so many Mainers are still looking for work, the unemployment benefit extension is set to expire on Nov. 30. Unless Congress votes to extend benefits, 24,000 Mainers will lose this lifeline in the coming five months. Never before have jobless benefits been cut when unemployment levels were so high.

Being without work is one of the most stressful things to deal with. I know because I have been unemployed and looking for work for 30 months. A sheet metal worker by trade, I am one of thousands of workers in construction and the building trades that have been unable to find work in these difficult times.

What people may not understand are the fears, self doubt and other emotional upheavals that many of us feel with long-term layoffs or first-time job loss. It can feel bleak and hopeless. Unemployment payments are like a small life raft in the middle of the ocean; far from ideal but enough so that we may survive.

It’s important to know that no one gets ahead while on unemployment, but it can and does make the difference between eating right and being able to give you and your family a home with heat; things that many of us take for granted every day.

It’s unfortunate that as Congress is considering whether to extend unemployment insurance, it is also considering if it should renew tax cuts for the richest two percent of people. While millions of jobless across the country are struggling, some in Congress want to pass another billionaire bailout.

Workers in Maine and nationwide need to know that their government will not fail to help them in this dire time. Our elected officials cannot allow millions of hard working people to stop getting their unemployment during this time of year. The hardships and emotional toll of this could be catastrophic to so many, just so a few can continue to enjoy their wealth under a tax system that is designed in their favor.

How many wealthy people would hurt themselves because they lost a tax break? I am afraid that some jobless people will see no other way but suicide if they have nothing left. I am saddened that this even is an issue, because you would think the wealthiest Americans would be gracious enough to offer up their tax breaks if it could benefit their fellow Americans.

The entire Maine economy will suffer if unemployment benefits expire. This is money that people are spending and it is being pumped immediately back into the economy, saving other jobs here in our state.

I am glad our senators voted for the unemployment insurance extension last summer, and I know many Mainers are looking to them now to be leaders and stand up for the 24,000 Mainers who will be left out in the cold if Congress does not act soon.

Maine families need a sense of security through this hard and stressful time of economic recovery.

Joseph Mailey is vice president and recording secretary of the Western Maine Labor Council.