Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County | The Fox Valley Labor News

Members of Hillside-based IBEW Local 9, from left, IBEW Local 9 Financial Secretary Brian Lewis, Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County Director Keenan White, IBEW Local 9 Business Manager Bill Niesman, Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey, Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County staff member Steve Beranek and IBEW Local 9 Assistant Business Manager Kevin Schuster, along with children from the Boys and Girls Club of West Cook County, helped set up the turkey dinner donation site. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

BELLWOOD — Last year, Hillside-based IBEW Local 9 Business Manager Niesman made a promise to the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County — his Local would be back again this year with turkey dinner donations for families.

“After [the club] told us how appreciative they were [last year], we knew we’d do it again,” Niesman explained. For Thanksgiving last year, the Local donated turkey dinners to deserving families. And this year, the Local kept its promise.

On Nov. 21, union members pulled up outside the club and carted in enough turkeys, plus all the fixings for a complete turkey dinner. “We tried to think of everything,” said Niesman. “We’ve got applesauce, pop, gravy and stuffing, pies, rolls and vegetables.” The union even provided aluminum pans to cook the turkey in. Food was purchased at Jewel-Osco and Aldi’s.

Families not only took home a turkey for their Thanksgiving dinner, but all the trimmings, including: applesauce, pop, gravy and stuffing, pies, rolls, vegetables and an aluminum pan to cook the turkey in. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

The clubs Director Keenan White said IBEW Local 9 does so much for the kids. A complete turkey dinner at Thanksgiving is a way to help families in the community as well.

Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey stopped by the club to see how things were going. Harvey attended the club when he was a child. “When we moved here, I remember joining the following year — in ‘72 or ‘73,” Harvey recalled.

Many of the volunteers attended the Boys and Girls Club as children. Michael Somone, Assistant Vice President of Amalgamated Bank of Chicago and member of the Club’s Board of Directors facilitated joining IBEW Local 9 with the Club.

“This club does so much for the community. This is a wonderful way for labor to give back,” Somone explained.

Children at the club were eager to help sort and organize bags of food.

Donated food sits in carts waiting to be brought up to the 2nd floor. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Union members start organizing and lining up food on tables. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Brian Lewis works on his handshake with a Club member. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

IBEW Local 9 Financial Secretary Brian Lewis, IBEW Local 9 Business Manager Bill Niesman, Bellwood Mayor Andre Harvey and IBEW Local 9 Assistant Business Manager Kevin Schuster pose for a picture in front of the IBEW Local 9 trailer. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Hillside’s IBEW Local 9 and Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County

Members of Hillside’s IBEW Local 9, including Bill Niesman, Joe Notaro, Eric Bergdolld, Phil Dote and Kevin Schuster, along with staff and children from the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County, helped set up the Nov. 22 turkey dinner donation site. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

By Jennifer Rice
Managing Editor
Thursday, Nov. 24, 2016
Email Jennifer Rice at: jen@foxvalley
labornews.com

BELLWOOD — Board member Frank Sangiacomo summed up the evening after walking into the gym of the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County by saying, “this is beautiful!” Sangiacomo is also an alum of the same Boys & Girls Club.

What was beautiful was the sight of enough turkeys and all the trimmings for a yummy Thanksgiving meal — enough to feed 150 people, all made possible though the collective effort of Hillside’s IBEW Local 9 membership.

At its last two union meetings, members donated money, which was used to purchase turkeys, gravy, vegetables, yams, rolls, pies, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pop. The clubs Director Keenan White said both organizations have been talking on how they could partner together in ways to help the community and the children it serves. “Next thing you know, it turns into donating turkeys for Thanksgiving,” White said.

Before families arrived, all the food was sorted and bagged for convenience. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Food was pre-ordered, but pick-up, delivery and distribution was all done Nov. 22 by the union.

Club President Steve Beranek said the club has produced to many wonderful people over the years, with life skills they learned at the club. “I want to see that continue, and that’s what we want to do,” Beranek explained.

The Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County Director Keenan White makes sure every bag given to families has the same items in them. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Children at the club were eager to help by sorting and organizing bags of food. The club notified families, and pick up was from 4:30 to 8 p.m.

With money saved by not having to purchase a Thanksgiving dinner, families can now focus on the upcoming holiday season with a little more money in their pocket.

Children at the club were eager to help by sorting and organizing bags of food. The club notified families, and pick up was from 4:30 to 8 p.m. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

Hillside’s IBEW Local 9 made this Thanksgiving extra special for 50 families of the Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County. Jennifer Rice/staff photographer

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Tag Archives: Boys & Girls Club of West Cook County

Hillside-based IBEW Local 9 keeps a promise to help a community

IBEW Local 9 helps families with Thanksgiving dinners