At Teamsters Local 117, we strive to be an active force for positive change in our members' communities.  Our Union, over 16,000 members strong, supports pro-labor community events, community revitalization projects, workers' rights initiatives, union education programs, programs for disadvantaged youth, among others.

Already in 2010, Teamsters Local 117 has mobilized members to attend the Martin Luther King Jr March and the May Day March and Rally, and Teamsters for Tomorrow at Local 117 turned out 200 members and their families for a Bowl-a-thon event to benefit the Local 117 Jeff Alfieri Scholarship. 

Upcoming community events supported by Local 117 in 2010.  To sign up to attend an event, click here.

• Fremont Solstice Parade - June 19, 2010
  Founded in 1972, the Fremont Fair is one of Seattle’s most beloved neighborhood street festivals, featuring a weekend of eclectic activities that celebrate the quirky community of Fremont, the self-proclaimed “center of the universe.”  Local 117 will be there spreading the good word about our union.  To attend, sign up here.
• Pride Fest - June 27, 2010
  Join Teamsters Local 117 in supporting Seattle's GLBTG community by attending this year's Pride Fest Parade in downtown Seattle. To attend, sign up here.
• Tacoma Ethnic Fest - July 24-25, 2010
  Come celebrate Tacoma's diverse cultural heritage with Teamsters Local 117!  We will be enjoying the festivities and handing out information at the Teamsters Table. To attend, sign up here.
• Paint Tacoma Beautiful - July - August, 2010
  For Teamster activists, the Paint Tacoma Beautiful Program is a highlight that exemplifies community involvement.  Join a crew of Teamster Local 117 volunteers as they paint the home of a low-income senior in Pierce County. To attend, sign up here.  
• Solidarity Day - August 1, 2010
  Come help Teamsters Local 117 staff our table at the annual "Solidarity Day" at the Tacoma Rainiers. We'll be passing at balloons and literature to the labor friendly crowd. There will be free tickets to the game available at the Teamsters Local 117 office. To attend, sign up here.
• South Sound Workers Food Drive - September - October, 2010
  Last year members of Teamsters Local 117 helped organize donations of 90,000 lbs of food for Tacoma's Emergency Food Network. Sign up here to volunteer to help surpass that number in 2010!
• Solidarity Summit - October 7, 2010
• Teamsters Local 117 Annual Blood Drive - November 20, 2010
  For over 20 years, members of Local 117 have been donating blood to area blood banks.  Last year, our members donated over 100 pints of blood.  Don't miss this opportunitiy to help Local 117 save lives. 

If you plan on attending one of these events or want to volunteer to help organize our participation in an event, contact Brenda Wiest at 206-441-4860 ext. 1256 or 1-888-872-3487 ext. 1256.  You can also sign up to attend online.   

Local 117 Community Sponsorships - Apply Now!

Local 117 is now accepting applications to sponsor community groups.  Groups may include but are not limited to labor rights groups, sports groups, musical groups, academic groups, or otherwise.

Sponsorship applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis.  Sponsorship award recipients will be announced quarterly at the Local 117 membership meetings.  Groups with a direct connection to Local 117 members and/or to organized labor will be given highest priority.

Since launching the Community Sponsorship program in 2009, Teamsters Local 117 has sponsored the following groups:

• The West Seattle Wildcats Youth Cheer Squad - Sue Sutton, King County 
• Dance Group Quetzalt - Marco Rodriguez, Seattle Iron and Metals
• Hearts for Kids - Clyde McDaniel, Fred Meyer
• Emerald City Robotics - Paul Baxter, Local 117 retiree
• Federal Way Slam - Darrell Jacobsen, Golden State Foods
• Little Red Sox - Shaun Kendall, GP Gypsum
• The Dolls Drill Team - Suzette Baker, King County
• Puget Sound Anglers - Russell Carver, American Steel
• Rogers Fastpitch - Kaysha Lybecker, Airway Heights Correctional Center 

To view an application for this program, click here.

Completed applications should be sent to:  Teamsters Local 117 – Attn: Community Sponsorships, 14675 Interurban Ave. S. Suite, 307, Tukwila, WA 98168. To download a flyer for this program, click here. For more information, contact Thomas Wray at 206-441-4860 ext.1267 or send Thomas an email.

Stories about recent Local 117 community involvement:

• Teamsters head up May Day march (May 3, 2010)
• TFTers bowl strikes for Alfieri scholarship (April 7, 2010)
• Teamsters march in honor of King's legacy (January 18, 2010)
• TFTers deliver toys to laid off Teamsters (December 15, 2009)
• Local 117 members donate over 80,000lbs of food (October 1, 2009)
• Union summit to highlight community service (September 28, 2009)
• Teamsters help beautify Tacoma neighborhood (August 17, 2009)

Membership Assistance:

Teamsters Local 117 provides assistance to members in need.  To find out more about Local 117's membership assistance program, contact your Business Representative.