Operating Engineers Local 513’s Children’s Charity purchases backpacks, school supplies for needy children

Posted on September 10, 2018 |

GIVING BACK, Local 513 Business Agent Byron Saunders delivers backpacks stuffed with school supplies to needy children at Pierre Laclede Elementary. – Local 513 photo

By TIM ROWDEN

Editor

Operating Engineers Local 513’s Children’s Charity Fund recently purchased backpacks and school supplies for needy children at nine schools.

Local 513 holds an annual raffle to raise money for the Children’s Charity.

Last year’s raffle raised funds to purchase 140 coats for needy children, but there was still money left over.

“We still had funds available,” Local 513 President and Business Manager Tim Sappington said. “And we thought it would be a good idea if we did something for children that need school supplies.”

‘WE DID WHAT WE COULD’

Local 513 business agents contacted schools in their areas to identify how many children were in need and purchased 24 backpacks and $600 worth of school supplies.

“We all know that all the schools have needy children,” Sappington said. “So we divided it up what we had and the business agents went to the different schools in their areas. We didn’t have a whole lot, but we did what we could do for them.”

BENEFITING SCHOOLS

The benefiting schools included:

• Blair Oaks Elementary in Wardsville, MO.

• Boncl R-X School District in Louisiana, MO.

• Cole County R-1 Elementary in Russellville, MO.

• Coleman Elementary in Villa Ridge, MO

• Dardenne Elementary in O’Fallon, MO.

• Dunklin School District in Pevely, MO.

• Pierre Laclede Elementary in St. Louis

• Special Acres State School in Park Hills, MO.

• St. Joseph Cathedral School in Jefferson City, MO.

‘IT’S THE UNION WAY’

“The Operators, and all the trades, we all do what we can to help the communities where we work and where our members live and where, like any community, there are people in need,” Sappington said. “That’s the union way.
“The schools and the counselors are always just ecstatic and appreciative of what Labor does for them, trying to help people out who have a little misfortune.”

HELP OUT

This year, Local 513 is raffling off a Henry Rifle 45-70. Tickets are $5 each or five for $20.

If you want to help the Children’s Charity by participating in this year’s raffle, you can get tickets by calling Local 513 at 314-739-3983.

Here are some additional photos from the event courtesy of Local 513: