Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 helps Heat-Up St. Louis, Salvation Army

Members of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 562 were out at the crack of dawn recently, joining in the 18th Annual Hardees’ Rise ’N Shine for Heat event benefitting Heat-Up St. Louis. About 100 Local 562 members stopped at the Hardee’s at 12004 Lackland Rd. in St. Louis on their way to work to purchase a $1 sausage-egg biscuit, with all proceeds going to Heat-Up St. Louis.  Local 562 also presented Heat-Up with a check for $5,000 (top) to help elderly, disabled and low-income residents and families in the greater St. Louis region pay their heating bills. Presenting and accepting the check were (from left) Local 562 Director of Minority Recruiting Fred Searcy, Heat-Up St. Louis Executive Vice President Denise Liebel, Local 562 Business Manager John O’Mara, St. Louis County Executive Steve Stenger, Fox 2 News host Katie Kormann and Local 562 staff member Jane Schneider.

Local 562 organizes its own Heat’s On program in collaboration with the Mechanical Contractors Association (MCA), with union member volunteers servicing the heaters for needy families, the elderly and retirees screened by the United Way to make sure they’re ready for winter.

Local 562 members also support the Salvation Army and recently presented the charitable organization with a $5,000 donation collected by members (bottom). Local 562 has supported the Salvation Army for at least 10 years, with member volunteers manning the familiar red kettles outside stores during the holidays. This season’s bell ringing efforts, done in conjunction with the city of St. Peters, saw Local 562 volunteers ringing bells in St. Peters, St. Charles, north and south St. Louis County and South City. Presenting and accepting the $5,000 donation were (from left) St. Peters Mayor Len Pagano, Plumbers, Local 562 Business Manger John O’Mara, Salvation Army Major Ronald Key and MCA President George Corey. – Labor Tribune photos