For the seventh year in a row, Hamilton Steelworkers came together for Operation Backpack 2016.
Steelworkers worked with St. Matthew’s House in Hamilton and ArcelorMittal for the project. St. Matthew’s House worked with inner city schools and teachers to identify children in need of a backpack filled with school supplies.
The union contributed $32,000, including $1,000 from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. ArcelorMittal added $10,000 to the project.
On August 31, 40 Steelworkers gathered at ArcelorMittal’s Hamilton East plant and filled 1,000 backpacks with school supplies for students. The backpacks were delivered to St. Matthew’s House for distribution to students.
The Operation Backpack program has significantly grown since its inception, especially in the last two years. What started out as a project for USW Local 5328 members now has the Hamilton Steelworkers Area Council, USW Women of Steel Hamilton chapter, and USW locals 16506, 1005, 7135, 4153 and a number of community partners involved.
Steelworkers and community partners filled 600 backpacks in 2014 and 700 backpacks in 2015.
Additional photos can be viewed at: http://usw.to/ob2016 (photos by Mike Hnatjuk, USW Local 5328)
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