EM federal and contractor employees across the complex pitched in to help people in need this holiday season, from collecting truckloads of toys for children to stocking pantries with thousands of pounds of food. Here's a roundup of charitable givin...
December 15, 2016
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A view of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program. SRS employees collected more than 12,000 toys for this year’s drive.
Left to right, EM's Leslie Trevethan, Lakesha Morake and Sara Boivin at a Combined Federal Campaign Waffle Wednesday event at EM headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Volunteers with the West Valley Food Pantry, one of nine pantries that received food from the West Valley Demonstration Project food drive.
Bob Woods (left) and Jim Fleck of FBP lined up to sample chili cooked up by 27 chefs to support the Christmas Gifts for Children effort at the Portsmouth Site.
Jodi Jenkins of FBP was one of the United Steel Workers Local 1-689 Women of Steel who gathered at the Main Drive Gate collecting donations for the Christmas Gifts for Children program. During November, the group collected donations across the Portsmouth Site.
MSA employees gather with a display of a check for MSA’s donations to more than 20 non-profit organizations in November.
Marines accept toys, $29,000 for Toys for Tots at Hanford.
EM federal and contractor employees across the complex pitched in to help people in need this holiday season, from collecting truckloads of toys for children to stocking pantries with thousands of pounds of food.
Here's a roundup of charitable giving across the DOE complex:
EM Headquarters
EM headquarters employees this week crossed the 54-percent mark toward their goal of donating $61,900 to the 2016 Combined Federal Campaign, the federal government’s workplace charitable giving drive.
Just over two weeks remain in the campaign. With a theme of “Show Some Love,” employees pledge to charities that support wounded warriors, provide medical care, feed the hungry, house the homeless and make a difference in many other ways for millions of people.
EM volunteers hosted “Taco Tuesday,” “Waffle Wednesday,” a miniature golf competition, pizza party, chili cook-off, bake sale and other events to raise donations. Employees can also give through payroll deductions and other methods.
West Valley Demonstration Project (WVDP)
EM and its contractors helped the WVDP annual food drive surpass its goal, delivering more than 110,380 pounds of food — including 379 turkeys — to nine food pantries in the West Valley area.
In its 27th year, the drive had a target of collecting 100,000 pounds of food for hundreds of families in need, just in time for the holidays. Participants helping beat that goal included cleanup contractor CH2M HILL BWXT West Valley and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority.
Over eight days, the drive organizers watched the collection climb from an impressive 23,000 pounds on the first day to nearly 59,000 by the sixth day, and jumping by more than 50,000 pounds in the final two days.
The food pantries were thankful for the donations.
"With the turkeys and dry goods you donated, we were able to supply and help nearly 80 families, representing nearly 200 people. We are very grateful for your generosity," according to Valley View Food Pantry.
In November, 27 chefs battled for top chili cook-off honors at EM’s Portsmouth Site in southern Ohio while raising funds for Fluor-BWXT Portsmouth’s (FBP) Christmas Gifts for Children program.
First place went to FBP’s Cindy McBee, Cristy Renner and Beth Gilbert, who reprised “Venison Chili” in memory of their late friend and coworker Frank Thompson, a longtime supporter of the cook-off and gifts program.
Also supporting the program to benefit more than 3,000 children this year, the United Steel Workers Local 1-689 Women of Steel collected donations across the site. Some families signed up for children’s gifts will also receive donated hams and turkeys. Fifty lucky kids in the program will receive wooden “walking” bird toys made by FBP’s Ben Brier.
Hanford Site contractor Mission Support Alliance (MSA) found a new way to reward employees and support the community through its “30 Days of Caring” campaign.
A part of MSA Cares, an employee community outreach program, the campaign lets employees decide which charitable organizations receive MSA donations.
MSA and subcontractor employees submitted hundreds of nominations of nonprofit organizations, from the 2nd Harvest Food Bank to the Union Gospel Mission. Each day in November, a nomination was randomly chosen, and MSA donated in the employee’s name to the chosen non-profit.
Employee Kelly Profitt, with MSA Public Safety & Resource Protection, was a lucky winner. She chose to donate to the Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition.
“My son served in the Army in Afghanistan and was honorably discharged with a disability,” Profitt said. “He still suffers from night terrors seven years later. The local Veterans Coalition has done so much for him. They have helped him through some hard times and been very supportive. They deserve the donation and recognition for what they do to help our veterans."
By the end of November, MSA donated to more than 20 organizations, including Hospice at the Chaplaincy, the Alzheimer’s Association, Meals on Wheels, Wounded Warrior, Benton-Franklin Humane Society, Columbia Basin Veterans Coalition and others.
Hanford Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant (WTP) employees and contractors Bechtel and AECOM donated thousands of toys and nearly $29,000 to the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots campaign. It's the 10th year WTP employees have participated in the campaign.
“Toys for Tots is one of our favorite events of the year because it provides us with the opportunity to give back to the community and to honor the Marines as well as the many veterans who work at the Vit Plant,” said Danny Hydrick, construction manager for WTP, which is also known as the Vit Plant.
WTP employees and Bechtel designated $11,000 of the total donation to the Local 598 pipefitters’ annual Bikes for Tikes campaign. The pipefitters are purchasing and assembling 500 bicycles and helmets for Toys for Tots.
“We continue to be impressed by the consistent generosity of the Vit Plant employees and companies. Every year, they come together and help our local Toys for Tots organization meet our community’s needs and create brighter holidays for children in our area,” said Glen Carter, local Toys for Toys coordinator.
In 2016, WTP employees, Bechtel and AECOM donated nearly $570,000 to area community organizations and charities. Recipients included the United Way of Benton and Franklin Counties, Second Harvest, Junior Achievement, March of Dimes and others.
Local businesses Griggs/Ace Hardware and Vintners Logistics contributed to the WTP efforts. Griggs/Ace Hardware ensured the bicycle orders were fulfilled in time for Christmas delivery. Vintners Logistics will deliver the toys and bikes to Toys for Tots.
Savannah River Site (SRS)
SRS employees collected more than 12,000 toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
“This is the largest collection of toys I’ve been a part of since joining the Marine Corps in 1981,” Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Gregory Allen said. “SRS takes a lot of pressure off us. We don’t have to gather and organize the toys. They’re here, accepted and ready to go. All of this is inspiring.”
SRS employees supported 730 area children in the Angel Tree program, donating toys and clothing.
“The partnership we have with SRS and the Angel Tree Program is beyond anything I’ve ever experienced in my 15 years as an officer with the Salvation Army,” said Aiken Salvation Army Maj. David Phelps. “Because of events like this, last year we were able to provide over 21,000 toys to children in Aiken County.”
Contractors Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Remediation and Centerra provide monetary gifts to the program.
“When I wake up on Christmas morning, I stop and think about the number of children who are surprised with presents under the tree because of Toys for Tots and the Angel Tree Program,” said Julie Kirby, chair, SRS Toys for Tots Campaign. “At that moment, it’s more important than seeing what’s going on in my own house."
EM cleanup contractor Fluor Idaho and its employees contributed more than $209,000 to a United Way campaign.
“Like our employees, Fluor is committed to supporting United Way, and it’s more than just words,” Fluor Idaho Program Manager Fred Hughes said. “Fluor matched our employee contributions by 50 cents on the dollar that added nearly $50,000 more for our campaign. Fluor Idaho appreciates the warm welcome we have received and looks forward to demonstrating what it means to be a good corporate citizen involved in improving the quality of life in our communities.”
Fluor joined Battelle Energy Alliance, which operates Idaho National Laboratory, to donate a total of $615,000 to three regional United Way offices for the coming year. United Way organizations and nonprofit agencies throughout eastern Idaho will receive the donations.