SEATTLE — Machinists Union members are once again organizing a candy drive to benefit children living in the White Center neighborhood of Seattle.
Machinists Union District Lodge 751 will accept donations of unopened, individually wrapped candy through Oct. 25 at all its Puget Sound union halls – in Auburn, Everett, Renton and Seattle.
All the candy will be given to the Salvation Army of White Center so it can provide treats to children who attend its Halloween party, which its supports as a safe alternative to trick-or-treating.
But each year, the union collects enough candy to help the Salvation Army provide treats at other holiday celebrations as well, said Business Rep Joe Crockett, who is the Auburn focal for the candy drive.
“It tides them through Easter and sometimes into summer camp,” he said.
Last year, the union collected more than a half-ton of candy.
Originally formed in 1935 to represent hourly workers at the Boeing Co., District Lodge 751 of the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers now represents more than 32,000 working men and women at 48 employers across Washington, Oregon and California. In 2011, members of the union’s Machinists Volunteer Program gave more than 10,000 hours of their time to community service, while other volunteers collected more than $263,000 for Guide Dogs of America, the union’s charity of choice.
For a list of union-made Halloween treats, click here.
For more information about District 751, read the Machinists News.
