For the 12th year, IAM Local 206I paired up with the Brevard Family Partnership and brought joy to hundreds of kids in their community. Through donations and fundraising, the local was able gift each child two items from their Christmas wish list, making this year the best yet.
“Every year I am blown away by how quickly our members reach into their wallets to make sure these kids have a great Christmas,” said District 166 Directing Business Representative Robert Miller. “This is what is means to be union. We take care of each other and whether you hold a union card or not, we are a family here in Florida.”
“The IAM members at 2061 have a good Machinists Union contract, and with that comes the responsibility of taking care of the community. No child should be left behind, especially during the Christmas season,” said Southern Territory General Vice President Rickey Wallace. “For more than a decade, our Space Coast brothers and sisters have been making sure that doesn’t happen. I am so proud that our IAM elves were able to do that again this year.”
Local 2061 was able to adopt 400 children this Christmas season. The donations came from members and friends across District 166, raising more than $15,000 throughout the year. Special thanks go out to Local Lodge President Ed Grabowski, James Kersey, Mike Polchlopek and Tom Newton who really ramped up fundraising efforts this year.
About 40 IAM members, with their own kids and grandkids in tow, shopped for nearly four hours at Target making sure Santa’s workshop would be stocked. Even Target got into the spirit, donating $500 to the shopping spree along with substantial discounts for the toys.
Once again, the Brevard Family Partnership was thrilled at the work done by the IAM saying, ”The children of Brevard are lucky to have Santa’s merriest elves looking out for them!”
But it’s the IAM who is lucky enough to call the members of Local 2061 part of its union family.
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