On December 10, 2021, a violent, long-tracked tornado moved across Western Kentucky, producing severe to catastrophic damage in numerous towns. Crossing through eleven counties during its lifespan, the tornado was exceptionally long-tracked, traveling165miles.

With the Christmas season in full swing Local 776 member Rich Stover and his wife Linda were stunned as the amount of destruction unfolded before their eyes on the local television news station. While talking about the situation and that something needed to be done Linda and her friend Lisa Weiss decided to act. Lisa, who had previously worked with Charity in Action contacted the Emergency Management Agency in KY and received a list of needed supplies, from hand tools, power tools, and household clean-up supplies to generators, work lights, extension cords, and wheelbarrows. Lisa’s husband Tim, who is the Deputy Fire Chief of the Bryn Athyn Fire Co, donated a bay at the firehouse for the donation storage and assembly area. Once word got around town by way of the local news media donations began to snowball, from both individuals and local businesses. As the number of donations continued to increase, Linda went in search of a truck to move everything to KY. Here is where Rich got involved; the cost of renting a truck and having it driven to KY would have used almost all of the monetary donations collected, which Linda was hoping to provide to the relief agency in KY. Rich got Linda in touch with Local 776 President Ed Thompson, who didn’t hesitate to jump in with help. Ed agreed to supply the truck, the fuel, the tolls, and the driver; in this case, it would be Rich, to move the relief supplies to KY. The Warriors Watch motorcycle rider’s organization heard of the relief effort and offered a motorcycle and local police escort for a portion of the trip. Rich left PA with a fully loaded trailer on December 28^th. Upon arrival at a warehouse that was being used as a staging area for relief supplies, there was plenty of help to get the trailer unloaded and Rich on his way back home, arriving safely on December 30^th.

Commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson: When disaster strikes we are often called upon by the Red Cross for help in moving relief supplies. This was the first time that the relief effort was a “homegrown” endeavor. Rich and Linda, along with Linda’s co-organizer Lisa, did a commendable job in stepping up, getting the ball rolling, and working out the logistics of collecting, palletizing, loading, and finally getting the load where it was needed. I would also like to thank the many individuals and businesses that generously donated supplies to make this a successful relief effort.

The fire station bay quickly filled with donations

Someone remembered the kids!

A local business provided the use of a forklift to help load the truck

With a Police escort and the Warriors Watch leading the way Rich is ready to head for KY

A warehouse was being used by the local Emergency Management Agency to store, sort, and distribute the supplies

The workers had the truck quickly unloaded and sent Rich on his way back home!

The truck says it all!

On January 1, 2022, Local 776 Business Agent George Goodling retired from his long tenure with the Teamsters. George worked at YRC for 36 years and was a Steward for 21 years. George assumed his elected BA position at Local 776 in January of 2015 and was re-elected to two additional terms.

George has been married to his wife Brenda for 37 years and they have one son. They plan on slowly easing into retirement life, doing some traveling, heading to Florida to escape the PA cold and snow. A long-postponed trip to Italy is being planned, subject to Covid restrictions. After working as a BA for seven years George is planning on keeping his hand in labor by doing some volunteer work for the Labor Council. In addition, he plans to devote more time to woodworking and is putting together a small woodshop.

Asked for any parting words George commented: “It was an honor to work with everyone at Local 776, an honor to serve the members. The Local is in great hands and they never stop working for the members”.

The Officers and Agents of Local 776 honored George at a gathering shortly before he began retirement. Congratulations George, your presence at Local 776 will be missed. Best of luck, and enjoy retirement!

George, center, is presented with a plaque thanking him for his service, dedication, and loyalty to the members by Local 776 President Ed Thompson, (L) and Secretary-Treasurer Ron Hicks.

George's co-workers gathered to celebrate his retirement. From left: Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, BA's Spencer Dearth, John Taylor, Dave Vrona, Pres. Ed Thompson, BA's Mark Cicak, Shane Weaver, George, BA Mark Andreozzi, S/T Ron Hicks, and BA dave Wolf.

On behalf of the Officers, Agents, Staff, and myself, I would like to wish everyone a safe, and Happy New Year. As we turn the page on another year, do not look back on what could have, or should have been. Look forward with optimism and promise to a new year filled with opportunities!

Fraternally,

Ed Thompson,

President, Teamsters Local 776

On Saturday, December 18, 2021, Local 776 hosted our annual Christmas for Kids Community Services Christmas Party: with a little different look. Again this year due to Covid-19 concerns the party was held as a drive-thru for families to stop by, receive gifts and goodie bags from Santa, and share in the season. Santa and his “Elves” were busy making sure the right gifts got in the right vehicles and with the kids’ smiling faces it certainly looked like Christmas!

“We are fortunate to have so much, again this year more so than other years it’s important to help those in need share in the season. For some of these kids, this is their Christmas, and we try hard to help as many as possible,” commented Local 776 President Ed Thompson. “I would like to thank the Christmas for Kids Community Services Christmas Party Committee Members and also the Teamster Horsemen for all their hard work in putting this event together. Additionally, I would like to thank our represented employers; Bimbo Bakeries, and Canteen Vending Services, for their donations to help make the party a success.”

The look says it all: It's Christmas!

The Horsemen kept Santa and Mrs. Claus busy delivering gifts to the kids

Is that for me????

Santa let some of his helpers hand out gifts to the kids!

A special thanks to the committee members, the Horsemen, Members who donated to the party, and Mr. and Mrs. Claus for helping put the Christmas spirit in the kids' lives!

Additional photos from the "Party" can be found in the "Photo Gallery" and on the Local 776 Mobile App.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Cookies in the goodie bags for the Children’s drive-through, cookies for the Christmas dinner, cookies for the Christmas for Kids Community Services project. Local 776 goes through many cookies in December, ever wonder where they come from? Local 776 Trustee Rob Smiley, and his wife Janet, turn their home into a cookie factory in preparation for the festivities. They have been doing it for a number of years now and have got a routine established to turn out large quantities of cookies, the Smiley kitchen resembles a production line as tray after tray of cookies are laid out, baked, and cooled How many? This year Rob states it was over 500 dozen, that’s over 6,000 cookies coming out of their home’s kitchen! Thank you, Rob and Janet, for your time and effort contributing to the parties!

The Smiley cookies are always as good as they look!

Janet and Rob Smiley with their cookies, thanks again for making Christmas special!

At the conclusion of our Children’s Christmas Party drive-thru, there were some extra presents remaining. The Local decided to help Santa with Christmas wishes by donating the toys to area agencies.  Here’s a rundown of agencies we helped to make a brighter Christmas:

New Hope Ministries: A Christian social service agency serving our neighbors in times of need and supporting their efforts towards stability.

Dropping off gifts at New Hope Ministries are; (L-R) BA's Dave Vrona, Mark Andreozzi, John Taylor,  Mark Cicak, A new Hope staff member, and BA George Goodling. Behind the camera was Local 776  Organizer Ashley Cerzullo.

Marine Corps Toys for Tots: The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November, and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community.

Standing among the Marines (From left) are: BA's Mark Andreozzi, Spencer Dearth, Dave Wolf, and Organizer Ashley Cerzullo. Doing the photo work was our Man with the Cam; BA Mark Cicak!

YWCA Access York: YWCA York provides emergency shelter for victims and their dependent children fleeing imminent danger.

Pictured with Local 776 BA Dave Wolf is Jean Treuthart CEO YMCA, Access York

A hospital is no place for children, especially at Christmas time. The Hershey Medical Center’s Children’s Hospital and the Shriners Children’s Hospital received toys in the hope of making the kids have a brighter holiday.

Shriners Children’s Hospital: Provides compassionate, innovative care that improves the quality of life for children and their families.

The gifts for the shrines Hospital were dropped off at the Shriner's Zembo Mosque for transport to the hospital in Philadelphia, PA. From Left: BA Mark Andreozzi, Organizer Ashley Cerzullo, BA's Spencer Dearth, and Dave Vrona. Photo by Cam Man, again!

Hershey Medical Center: As the only children’s hospital between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia fully equipped to treat the most severely ill children it is the region’s pediatric health care leader.

From Left HMC Union Steward Tom Bender, BA Dave Vrona, HMC Child Life Coordinator Pamela Baranowski, and HMC Union Steward Bob Krotser. Taking the photo: Organizer Ashley Cerzullo.

“During this season of caring, the season of sharing the Local remains committed to supporting the communities where our members live and work” commented Local President Ed Thompson. “From our community services Christmas project in York to helping these organizations it’s all about People Helping People”.

Teamsters Local 773 members at Coca-Cola Abarta are on strike as of December 6, 2021. These brothers worked hard throughout the entire pandemic and did everything they could to ensure that customers would continue to be serviced. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola is offering them measly wage increases, threatening to take away their pensions, and increasing the cost of their health insurance. They deserve better! They will be on the picket line from 3 am to 8 pm everyday. Support them and show them that Local 773 is UNION STRONG!

In support of the striking Local 773 members, Local 776 sent our truck and a number of Business Agents to the strike line. The BA’s brought bottled water for the striking Teamsters to have while picketing. BA’s George Goodling, Dave Licht, John Taylor, and Dave Vrona were on hand to support the Local 773 members.

"Fat Cat" corporate greed and the famous Union "Rat" were alongside the Local 776 truck supporting the striking members in their fight with Coca-Cola.

Local 776 BA's stand tall with the striking Local 773 members; an injury to one is an injury to all!

The recently posted Toys for Tots Challenge article incorrectly identified one of our members. In the last photo, Local 776 BA Shane weaver is shown with YCP Maintenance Steward Randy Lutz. We apologize for any confusion this may have caused.

York County Prison (YCP) Member Todd Fritz, along with his co-workers in the prison maintenance shop, participated in a “Toys for Tots” collection challenge in support of radio station 96.1. Todd has a big truck and it would take a lot of toys to fill it, so the challenge was on!

YCP Business Agent Shane Weaver got wind of what Todd and the other members were doing, he approached the Local about helping out, helping to fill the truck with donations!

It will take a lot of toys to fill this truck up!

Local 776 BA Shane Weaver, (L) and YCP Maintenance Steward Randy Lutz add donations from Local 776 to the truck.

"People Helping People"

From Everyone at Local 776, Merry Christmas!

On December 12, 2021, per the logo on the side of the tractor-trailer, “People Helping People,” Local 776 assisted the Dauphin County Office of Human Services transport donated items to the Harrisburg Farm Show complex. Since 2008, with the assistance of local businesses, corporations, and community partners, the organization has provided needy families with hundreds of gifts. For several years, the Local has put the tractor-trailer to use, moving the collection of gifts to be received by over 400 families and over 2000 children and youth.

Our truck took over the front of the Farm Show Building for the move

It took a large group of Human Services employees to get everything into the Farm Show.

From Left: Local 776 BA's Spencer Dearth, and John Taylor, along with the county employees

The lobby of the building was filled with holiday gifts

The truck says it all!!