USW Cares: Jefferson Awards honors Woman of Steel

 

Raylynn McIntire of Local 5, District 12, is being honored again for her work leading USW Women of Steel in a project that helps veterans. 

McIntire was among the USW's first-ever Jefferson Awards winners named last year for outsanding public service.  She's been making sure our veterans' needs are met if their bravery results in injury or illness for the past five years. Raylynn organizes and leads a project that raises funds to bring gift bags of blankets, toiletries, puzzles, books, clothing and more to long-term and short-term patients at her local Veterans Hospital.

She also was nominated for a local "Unsung Hero" Jefferson Award at her local TV station KPIX in San Fransisco. The station did a story about the Women of Steel project, and Raylynn was honored last week at a reception with other winners. 

She was inspired to start this project after talking to her daughter who was a pharmacy intern at the hospital and hearing that the patients had to pay for things like razors, shampoo and any other personal items. Since many veterans have limited income to purchase these necessities, Raylynn brought the project idea to her local.

Last year alone, they were able to raise $20,000 to fill almost 200 large bags of goodies, and that was when the local was just coming out of a strike. This goes to show how committed the members are to giving back to those who give them their freedom, many of whom are also their own brothers and sisters.

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