• Posted: March 31, 2020
• better communities

There’s a reason that when someone joins a union like IBEW Local 134 they refer to their fellow electricians not as coworkers but as brothers and sisters. Members of IBEW Local 134 don’t just have a rewarding job, they have a family of fellow IBEW brothers and sisters who will help them out when times get tough. That sense of community and brotherhood was on display this past week when members of IBEW Local 134 decided to assist the retired members who need help during the COVID-19 outbreak.

At the end of March, roughly 15 volunteers came together at the Local 134 Union Hall to organize care packages for nearly 60 IBEW Local 134 retirees. The volunteers, consisting of business agents and apprentices, organized the packages with bread and non-perishable foods like canned tuna, granola bars, and peanut butter, and loaded them into a truck to be delivered to the retirees.

“We know that the older generation can be more susceptible to severe complications from this disease, so we wanted to make it as easy and safe as possible for them to get the supplies they need,” said Elbert Walters, Powering Chicago’s Director, who helped organize the efforts. “Powering Chicago contractors and electricians take care of their own and this week’s efforts help highlight that commitment.”

Walters said that there were no specific criteria for retirees to receive the package other than to be a retired member of Local 134. They just needed to register for the supplies through the IBEW Local 134 Hall. Walters, along with three other members from IBEW Local 134, went to an area Costco days before the drop-off to stock up on bulk items for the retirees.

Since the COVID-19 outbreak has worsened, Powering Chicago members have been doing what they can to help the Chicagoland area. From donating to the Ronald McDonald House Charities to continuing to work at areas hospitals to ensure power needs are met for medical personnel, Powering Chicago members are committed to ensuring needs are being met for the most vulnerable among us.