Sarah Whelan, USW Local 4120’s Vice-President was a student at a leadership course at Linden Hall earlier this year. As part of the course, leadership students were assigned homework – to complete a Good Works project.
Upon Sarah’s return home, she quickly got to work. Sarah has always believed in the importance of giving back to the community and lately has been brainstorming ideas of how to get USW Local 4120 members more involved and engaged. This project would be gift to those two ideas.
Sarah approached a local Salvation Army with the idea of working with the organization on a Winter Wear drive. However, there was more need for winter boots and socks than for coats, snowsuits, toques, gloves and other winter accessories.
USW Local 4120 held the boots and socks drive for the whole month of October. USW members and the University of Guelph community came by the local union office to drop off boots and socks for men, women and children of all ages.
Since the local has had a good history of partnering with Johnson Insurance on other charity initiatives, the insurance company was again asked to participate. Johnson Insurance contributed $1,500 allowing the local to purchase boots and socks from Shoeper Guelph. Sarah and Paul Anderson visited Shoeper, where staff were equally helpful in maximizing our purchases.
A total of 39 pairs of boots and socks were delivered to Salvation Army Guelph by Local 4120 Steelworkers Sarah Whelan, Liz Cherry and Sean Logan.
