Local reaches out to help fellow members
Santa (Mike Gallagher) with 7-year-old recipient.
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When members of Local 618 developed their “Helping Hands” project for the holidays last year, they had in mind helping a couple of families in need in their community.
One idea was to approach churches in the area and ask them whether they knew of families who needed assistance. As the Local leaders discussed the project, however, they agreed that helping fellow union members would be appropriate. “We thought there would be a number of layoffs and we could help out in that way,” explains Terri Prather, secretary of Local 618 and sub-chapter secretary, who works for the City of Olympia.
“Then, when we started asking around for families, we discovered that there were two families right in our own Local who were in need.”
Local 618 allotted $500 and the Thurston-Lewis Labor Council donated an additional $250, Prather says.
She and Paula Williamson, Local 618, City of Olympia chapter chair, went shopping. They drew up a list, checked it twice, and shopped all evening. They bought items that they felt would be useful and added a few fun items, too. Other union members donated food, clothing and various gifts. By the time they were done they had filled a conference room.
So it was that Christmas turned into a time of joy and surprise for families who had not long before wondered where they would find the money to buy gifts for their children.
The project was so successful that the Local is planning on repeating it this year.
Some of the Local members who helped in the project are shown in the accompanying pictures. Others were: Denny Finegan, 618 Thurston County chapter chair, and Mike Rhubright, 618 vice president.
Local 618 Santa’s helpers are (from left) Paula Williamson, Keith Shipley, Local 618 President; Dave Pinney, Local 618 Executive Board member, and Julie Pinney. Mike Gallagher played the role of Santa.
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Helping Hands from Local 618 are (from left): Terri Prather, Secretary; Paula Williamson, City of Olympia chapter chair, and Heather Hirotaka, Thurston County chapter chair.
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