The members of IBEW Local 105 in Hamilton not only provided a $2,000 donation to the United Way, they made the time to collect clothing and other essentials for men living at the local YMCA Men’s Residence.
Left to right: Steve Fox (Local 105), Gillian Surette-Robinson (United Way), Lorne Newick (Local 105), and Doug Dunham (Local 105)
The holidays are ideally full of family, friends, and joy – but for some the holidays are a particularly difficult time of year. Local 105 chose to reach out to help a few of those people.
When the YMCA Men’s Residence put out the call for blankets, boots, coats, mitts, hat, sweaters, toiletries and other winter essentials, the United Way decided to lend a hand.
Gillian Surette-Robinson, Senior Manager, Labour Community Services for United Way Halton and Hamilton reached out to Local 105, and they did not disappoint.
In a very short amount of time, members of the local collected warm clothing and boots. A donation of $2,000 will help the United Way help agencies like the YMCA Men’s Residence.
Said Surette-Robinson, “We are thrilled with the response from IBEW Local 105. There are 174 men in transitional housing at our local YMCA Men’s Residence who will benefit from the very generous donations.”
The men who use the residence are often in transition or coping with serious life challenges. They may be students, newcomers to Canada, in transition due to separation or divorce, fleeing unsafe or unstable housing situations, or trying to overcome physical or mental health challenges.
Staying at the YMCA Men’s Residence offers affordable temporary housing that also provides security and access to a variety of support services if needed. The clothing and other essentials will be given out at the upcoming holiday dinner.
Steve Fox, Business Agent for Local 105, stated, “We were glad to contribute. While the Men’s Residence isn’t a high profile cause, we wanted to do what we can to help make their holiday just a bit brighter.”