Teamster kids of all ages flashed their smiles of appreciation at our back-to-school drive. 

Our Teamster family came together in a big way to help kids get ready for the start of school. 

With our back-to-school drive this year, Local 117 members donated enough to supply dozens of families and over a hundred kids with paper, pencils, binders, crayons, glue stick (and more!). Members and their kids could stock up at one of three locations - Tukwila, Tacoma, or Pasco.

Candi Ramos will use the donated supplies for the new foster kids she's taken in to her family. 

One of the recipients was Candi Ramos, a driver at MV Transportation. For Candi, the support couldn't have come at a better time. After taking in several foster kids, her family had swelled overnight.

"I'm helping these girls," she explained. "I want to make sure they can smile without feeling scared. When I show up with these supplies, they're going to get really excited. I want them to feel welcome, that they are part of my family."

Like Candi, many Teamsters came to the event with young kids in tow. After loading up, they left with exuberant faces. At the Pasco location, Teamster volunteers, led by Union Reps Laura Bolinger and Matthew McGetrick put on a barbecue for their members. 

"These are the kinds of community support activities we do as Teamsters," said John Scearcy, Secretary-Treasurer of Local 117. "Our families and our children are precious. We need to make sure that all kids have the supplies they need so that they are ready to learn. This back-to-school drive is a small step toward that goal." 

Thank you to the many Teamsters who chipped in to make this event a success!