IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community | Machinists Union District Lodge 77

The IAM Midwest Territory’s “IAM H.E.L.P.S. in the Community” program was conceived in the spring of 2017. IAM H.E.L.P.S. stands for Honoring, Engaging, Lifting, Providing and Servicing. The initiative is a part of the Territory’s continued efforts to provide essential support to residents in need. District Lodge 77 has held the following IAM H.E.L.P.S. events:

In the fall of 2017 District Lodge 77 held its first IAM H.E.L.P.S. event with more than 30 District 77 members, spouses, children and retirees helping FamilyWise with a number of projects at their St. Paul Facility. Projects included cleaning the building’s exterior, removing old carpeting, breaking down old office furniture, and organizing old financial records.

“We are giving back to the community to hopefully show that we are more than just a labor organization, we are also here to help people in the community,” said District Lodge 77 Directing Business Representative John Steigauf.

FamilyWise has been keeping Minnesota children and families safe and helping them to lead stable, healthy and productive lives since 1976. Programs and services include early childhood education, parenting skills, and help with providing a safe, secure location for families faced with homelessness, at-risk youth, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, or divorce.

For more information on this event along with photos click here. Watch the Video from the 2017 IAM H.E.L.P.S. Event at FamilyWise.

In the spring of 2018 more than 20 IAM volunteers gathered at Minnesota’s Community Emergency Services (CES) Food Shelf facility in Minneapolis to help get their building back in shape.

The projects included cleaning out their refrigerator and freezers, repair of a window awning, removal of water damaged drywall, landscaping and sorting of food for their food shelf.

“Seeing all the work that your Brothers and Sisters have finished through the project is a real feel good moment” said District Lodge Secretary Treasurer Ross Olson.

“We moved about a half million pounds of groceries through this building last year,” said CES Operations Manager Mike Krachmer. “We served about 90,000 Meals on Wheels. We get a lot of volunteers here, but we don’t get a lot of skilled volunteers, it’s great to have guys who can get out the tools and do the work. It’s long overdue.”CES has the largest Meals on Wheels program in Minneapolis.

For more information on this event along with photos click here. Watch the video from the 2018 IAM H.E.L.P.S. Event at CES.

In the fall of 2018 District 77 members, children and retirees gathered at FamilyWise to help with projects at their Minneapolis facility. Volunteers helped with a number of projects including repair of a playground fence, removal and replacement of a storage shed, removal and repair of old, dangerous and damaged playground equipment, cleaning of the playground and throughout their facility.

“We are not just working to make conditions better in the workplace for our members, we are working to make our whole community a better place to live and work,” said District Lodge 77 Secretary Treasurer Ross Olson.

Family Wise has been keeping Minnesota children and families safe and helping them to lead stable, healthy and productive lives since 1976. Programs and services include early childhood education, parenting skills, and help with providing a safe, secure location for families faced with homelessness, at-risk youth, teenage pregnancy, domestic violence, or divorce.

For more information on this event click here.

Click Here for images from the event.