Steel Workers Help Let's Help

WIBW.com, November 20, 2007

Goodyear workers are "paying forward" some help they received a year ago.

The United Steel Workers Local 307 presented Topeka's Let's Help organization a $10,000 check Tuesday. That's the same amount car dealer Ed Bozarth gave the union to help striking workers last holiday season.

The union's leadership decided the gift should keep giving. Local 307 Vice President Glen Griffith said Let's Help and the United Way are very close to the Steel Workers. He says they are good organizations that helped their members when they were in tough times and continue to help people all year.

"It just feels good to give," Griffith said.

Let's Help Executive Director Ken Gudenkauf says the holidays are always special for the organization. He says they usually adopt 550 families through the Christmas Bureau, and the union's donation would go a long way to providing those families a nice food package and other items, just as mittens and hats.

It's not the first gift the union's given Let's Help. The International Steel Workers sent a $13,000 check following the strike to thank the community for its support of the workers. The international board decided to donate to an organization in each of the communities where workers went on strike.

Let's Help faced tough financial times earlier this summer. Gudenkauf said in July, he thought he wouldn't be able to make payroll through August. Now, he says he believes he could make it through April. He says the organization is still not entirely stable, but it is making progress.

To help with the financial troubles, Let's Help put its three buildings on the market. Gudenkauf says they are negotiating an offer on the building at 234 S. Kansas and there is interest in the warehouse. He says there are no offers on the administrative building, where lunch is served, but he says it's possible Let's Help may decide to consolidate its services in that building. In addition, he credits their bank and the United Way for their willingness to work with the organization.

Gudenkauf says Let's Help serves an average of 300 meals a day. He says that often grows to 500 meals a day around the end of the month.