Submitted by Irais Lopez, WOS Coordinator, Port Neches, Texas
The USW Women of Steel from Local 13-228, completed its annual Christmas fundraiser of adopting families in our area who need a little help in fulfilling their Christmas wishes. Our SOAR chapter received $1000 from Anthony Gomez of the Asbestos Health Line to aid in our collection and the Local Hall matched the donation. Each year, since 2013, the fundraiser has grown beyond our expectations and our fellow co-workers have responded in outstanding proportions.
This year we were able to provide a complete Christmas dinner, including a turkey and all the fixings, to 17 families. All 29 kids from these families received a new winter coat, a bicycle and several toys. The toys were all wrapped, tagged and delivered. The deliveries were made early enough that the gifts could be placed out of sight until dear old Santa’s arrival.
As we all know, this has been a trying year and we have seen many of our brothers and sisters struggling. Thankfully, we were able to send $500 to USW Local 235A to help provide some Christmas gifts 
to the children of our locked-out brothers and sisters from Sherwin Alumina. Hopefully, with our combined efforts we can help ease some of their burdens during this holiday season. The excess funds were donated to our local Hospitality Center to feed the hungry.
We would like to thank everyone for making this such a wonderful and successful event. The Women of Steel are wishing you and yours a blessed holiday season.
This project is just one of so many that the USW's amazing members do every day to give back to our communities. If you or your local is doing good things, we want to hear about it! Click Here to share articles, videos and photos with us and don’t forget to use the #USWCares hashtag and give a shoutout to @Steelworkers when you post your stories on social media. Please submit a nomination for a Jefferson Awards at usw.org/uswcares.
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