Skilled building trades union members, high school students, and other community volunteers worked side by side May 3 in Chaska to help fix up five homes as part of the annual "Christmas in May" event. Volunteers painted, did yardwork, and built a wheelchair ramp for a 92-year old World War II veteran.
This year\'s event received an added boost from the volunteer efforts of 18 union members, recruited by the South Suburban Labor Council, part of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.
As some 230 volunteers readied for the day in the gym at Guardian Angels School, event chair Chris Nelson singled out the union members for recognition: "Today, for the first time, we have a large number of union members from throughout the metro area…" Nelson read aloud the list of unions represented.
Interviewed later, Nelson said the union members\' efforts helped volunteers complete the work in a professional manner. "Their contribution was just outstanding," he said. "We are so excited as an organization to have participation from organized labor."
He added: "we look forward to many more years of collaborative efforts."
"We got to meet a lot of nice people in the community who were a lot of fun to work with," said Gayle McMahon, MRLF political organizer and staffperson for the South Suburban Labor Council.
Participating in Christmas in May was a community outreach opportunity for the South Suburban Labor Council, which first organized last spring.
"It was a great opportunity for people to see union members at work and see their skills," McMahon noted. "They were helping direct other people and show them what to do."
About one-half of the group of volunteer union members came from District Council 82 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Other unions represented included National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 9, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 12, Pipefitters Local 539, Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, and Teamsters Local 120.
The group of union volunteers shared a common reason for participating: "It\'s good to give back to the community," said volunteer Tony McGarvey, Brooklyn Park, a member of Painters Local 386.
One volunteer, Karla Schmid of Painters Local 386, came from as far away as Ham Lake — far on the other side of the metro area.
"The whole metropolitan area is my community," said Larry Chadwick, St. Paul Park, a retired member of Pipefitters Local 539.
"The trades have given me so much and we all should give back," said Pete Parris, Waconia, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 10.
One of the homeowners assisted was Ludwig Von Gohren, who lives with his wife Emily and daughters Faith, 4, and Serenity, 1, in a 120-year old house that needed a lot of work. "It\'s a huge boost," he said, while a couple of dozen volunteers painted his home.
As union members worked with the volunteers, the day was not without challenges, related painter Jim Fleischhacker "I put my paint bucket down for a second — and someone took it!"
Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit www.minneapolisunions.org for photos of the Christmas in May event in Chaska.
Share
Skilled building trades union members, high school students, and other community volunteers worked side by side May 3 in Chaska to help fix up five homes as part of the annual "Christmas in May" event. Volunteers painted, did yardwork, and built a wheelchair ramp for a 92-year old World War II veteran.
This year\’s event received an added boost from the volunteer efforts of 18 union members, recruited by the South Suburban Labor Council, part of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation.
As some 230 volunteers readied for the day in the gym at Guardian Angels School, event chair Chris Nelson singled out the union members for recognition: "Today, for the first time, we have a large number of union members from throughout the metro area…" Nelson read aloud the list of unions represented.
Interviewed later, Nelson said the union members\’ efforts helped volunteers complete the work in a professional manner. "Their contribution was just outstanding," he said. "We are so excited as an organization to have participation from organized labor."
He added: "we look forward to many more years of collaborative efforts."
"We got to meet a lot of nice people in the community who were a lot of fun to work with," said Gayle McMahon, MRLF political organizer and staffperson for the South Suburban Labor Council.
Participating in Christmas in May was a community outreach opportunity for the South Suburban Labor Council, which first organized last spring.
"It was a great opportunity for people to see union members at work and see their skills," McMahon noted. "They were helping direct other people and show them what to do."
About one-half of the group of volunteer union members came from District Council 82 of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. Other unions represented included National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 9, Office and Professional Employees International Union Local 12, Pipefitters Local 539, Sheet Metal Workers Local 10, and Teamsters Local 120.
The group of union volunteers shared a common reason for participating: "It\’s good to give back to the community," said volunteer Tony McGarvey, Brooklyn Park, a member of Painters Local 386.
One volunteer, Karla Schmid of Painters Local 386, came from as far away as Ham Lake — far on the other side of the metro area.
"The whole metropolitan area is my community," said Larry Chadwick, St. Paul Park, a retired member of Pipefitters Local 539.
"The trades have given me so much and we all should give back," said Pete Parris, Waconia, a member of Sheet Metal Workers Local 10.
One of the homeowners assisted was Ludwig Von Gohren, who lives with his wife Emily and daughters Faith, 4, and Serenity, 1, in a 120-year old house that needed a lot of work. "It\’s a huge boost," he said, while a couple of dozen volunteers painted his home.
As union members worked with the volunteers, the day was not without challenges, related painter Jim Fleischhacker "I put my paint bucket down for a second — and someone took it!"
Steve Share edits the Labor Review, the official publication of the Minneapolis Central Labor Union Council. Visit www.minneapolisunions.org for photos of the Christmas in May event in Chaska.