|
Union Members
Pitch In to Help Those in Need
When Tim left his wife in search
of work, he wasn't sure what he would find.
In an effort to find steady employment, 47-year-old
Tim Duchene said goodbye to his wife and boarded a Greyhound
headed from New Orleans to Tacoma.
A stranger to the area, Tim had no money and
no place to stay. His search for steady employment soon proved
to be more difficult than he thought. Left with few options,
Tim went to stay at the Men's Emergency Shelter at the Tacoma
Rescue Mission. He continued his pursuit for work and ultimately
was given a job lead for a welding position. But having been
without work since arriving in Tacoma, he did not have the
money to buy the safety equipment necessary to start working.
That is when he called the United Way of Pierce
County HelpLine, requesting a referral for places that might
donate welder's safety gear and tools.
United Way HelpLine Supervisor Rick Falsetta
and United Way's Director of Labor Participation and AFL-CIO
Community Services Liaison Emma Faidley put their heads together.
They helped Tim with transportation to and from exams and
appointments that he needed to attend in order to begin working.
More importantly, however, he was able to obtain all of the
safety equipment and welding tools. Tim was also able to get
an eye exam and glasses through Lens Crafters Gift of Sight
Program.
Tim is now happily employed at American Metal
Specialties, Inc. and is taking MIG welding classes through
a program sponsored by the Tacoma Rescue Mission. He is working
to save up enough money to have a place to live ready when
he and his wife are reunited.
United Way of Pierce County and all those involved
in helping Tim Duchene would like to give their special thanks
to the following for their generous contributions:
· Jon Soine, owner of the South
72nd Street Red Wing Shoe Store for donating a brand new pair
of welding boots
· Julie Clapham, Supervisor and Lead Customer Service
Representative at Pierce Transit for donating bus tickets
· Mary Bradford, Pastoral Assistant for Social Ministries
at St. Leo's for helping find donations of a welder's jacket
and gloves
|
