Teamsters 117 started the New Year off by giving back to the community. 

On January 4, a team of Shop Stewards met up with John Scearcy, Local 117 President and Executive Assistant, to spend that cold winter morning volunteering at the Emergency Food Network’s repack project.

Their work involved repacking frozen cut corn, which had been donated in bulk, into two-pound, family-sized bags.  Together, Jason Stepner, John Langenbach, Mike Reavey, Jason King and John Scearcy helped repack 6,400 pounds of frozen cut corn in a 3-hour shift.  

“Each month there are more than 116,000 visits made to Pierce County emergency food sites by children, seniors and adults needing help,” Scearcy said.  “I work hard representing members of our Union every day, but my responsibility to the struggling middle class extends to the rest of the community as well.” 

“Helping communities is what we Teamsters do.  If we all helped out in a small way in our communities, just imagine how much better off things would be.”

Jason Stepner, a longtime Shop Steward at FSA, has always been willing to donate his time to those in need and was appreciative of his Union’s leadership for presenting him with the opportunity.

“I feel that our members truly believe in working together in solidarity to address major issues in our workplaces, our communities, and beyond,” Stepner said.  “Many of us simply don’t know where and how we can be useful.  When John Scearcy reached out with this opportunity, he answered that question for me and I was more than happy to help out.”

Jason King shared his feelings after volunteering: “The most rewarding part is giving back to the community that has given to me my entire life.”

Once repackaged, these bags were ready for distribution to individuals and families in need at Pierce County emergency food sites.

Mike Reavey talked about the power of this collective effort.  “It is great to see that we as Teamsters can stick together in the workplace and also come together to help in our community,” he said.

John Langenbach the most senior Teamster of the bunch, with over 20 years of membership experience, put it simply, “Helping communities is what we Teamsters do.  If we all helped out in a small way in our communities, just imagine how much better off things would be.”