Submitted by Tracy Scott
Each year, in the months preceding the holidays, United Steelworkers Local 5 members start to think about our American Veterans being treated locally at the Martinez VA Hospital on Muir road. Often veterans are many miles away from home and family while being treated and this makes acquiring basic items more difficult not to mention costly.
The USW Local 5 Women of Steel (WOS) Committee take’s on the Veteran's Gift Bag Project each Holiday Season to make sure that the men and women who have served their Country ably and honorably are shown the same type of service and honor in return. The WOS leadership solicits donations of various items which would otherwise cost these veterans their precious resources in order to have basic need type items like toiletries and other essentials.
Our goal each year is guided by the input of the wonderful staff of the VA hospital and they let us know how many Veterans we will be receiving the gift bags this Holiday Season this year we are shooting for 150 gift bags. The WOS make sure that the Veterans of all branches of the Armed Services being treated at the Martinez VA Hospital are aware of the support and gratitude of the Local Labor Community.
This project is just one of so many USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local are doing good things in your community, we want to hear about them. Let us know and share video and photos at www.usw.org/uswcares and use the #USWCares hashtag when you post your stories on social media. Don't forget to shout out @Steelworkers!
