Local 393 members distribute food baskets to area military families.

Great Plains Laborers District Council local unions were active in holiday charity activities.  Local 393 in Marseilles, Illinois, distributed food baskets to military families.  Local 362 in Bloomington, Illinois helped staff, prepare and plan the annual Christmas Party for Unemployed Families.  And Local 996 in Roanoke, Illinois anonymously helped a family of seven having hard times during the holidays.

Members of Laborers Local Union 393 in Marseilles packed 25 Christmas family food baskets for distribution to Illinois National Guard members and families. The soldiers are with A Company, 33rd Brigade Special Troops Battalion, stationed at the military training facility south of Marseilles. Some of the soldiers recently returned from Afghanistan. The Laborers have been providing the baskets to soldiers since 2000. Pictured are (from left) Spc. Brian Roether, Santa Claus, Maj. Joseph Florczak, Spc. Jeremy Olivero, Sgt. Andrew Prentice, Laborer Terry Virgil, Spc. Jeanetta Johnson, Sgt. Noah Jackson, 1st Lt. William Hamby, Staff Sgt. Michael Murray and Laborer Mike "Rambo" Farrare. 
 

For the past 27 years, the members of Laborers' Local Union 393 have been hosting its annual Christmas Family Food Basket Program. The members pull together each year to brighten the spirits for needy families in the Illinois Valley by providing Christmas food baskets complete with a turkey and all the trimmings for a family of four to six people. Many of the members and their families have been helping with the food baskets for many years with their children growing up learning the real true meaning of Christmas.
 

Laborers Local 362 in Bloomington, Illinois participated for the 28th year in the annual Children's Christmas Party for unemployed families.   Over 400 children attend, where they enjoyed carnival games, arts and crafts, costumed characters, cartoons and a visit from Santa with a gift and grab-bag for each child.

Laborers Local 996 in Roanoke, Illinois heard about a needy family living near their union hall; the father, an unemployed bricklayer, had just returned to Illinois with his wife and children.  He hopes to find work this spring.  A union meeting collection by Local 996 brightened the holiday for this member.