Local 347 (Des Moines) Helps Students with Holiday Gifts

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Union hopes gifts keep students warm

IBEW Local 347 gives King kids Target gift cards for winter clothes

By LAURA PIEPER, REGISTER STAFF WRITER

December 30, 2004

"How many of you believe in Santa Claus?" King Elementary School Principal Thomas Simmons asked the students assembled in the gymnasium Dec. 17. Most of them raised their hands.

"Santa Claus has a lot of people who help him out," Simmons said. "We have two of those individuals here today."

He introduced Garry Granberg and Jeff Rose, members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 347. The children watched curiously as the men approached the microphone. This was the students' weekly Character Counts assembly, and they wondered if the men were going to talk about citizenship, the pillar of character the kids were studying.

Granberg, the union's business manager, made the children giggle as he talked about how he had to wear warm clothes in all of the jobs he's had since he was a child. He donned a pink hat each time he spoke about a new job, reminding the children to dress warmly during the winter months.

Then he dropped the bombshell. Each student would receive a $25 gift card to Target to buy winter clothing.

The gymnasium erupted with gasps and cheers.

The IBEW Local 347 donated 400 gift cards to the school, 1849 Forest Ave. Granberg said the union searched for a community service project and spoke to Simmons, who told them many King students did not have boots and could not play outside in the snow. The union contacted a regional Target manager and originally planned to purchase boots for all of the students.

"We tried to buy that many (400) snow boots. That's not an easy task," Rose said.

The union decided to donate the gift cards to let the children make their own choices.

"I think it's great for our kids," Simmons said. He estimated 75 percent of King students are on the free and reduced-price lunch program.

"No question about it, we have kids that need this," he said. "This is an excellent gift for the kids at this time. This is something that will brighten up their Christmas a bit more."

While the intent was to have the children buy clothing, many of them wanted to use their cards selflessly to buy presents for their families.

Second-grader Khallid Edwards , 7, was overwhelmed by the gift.

"I've never got to do this before," he said. "I'm getting me some stuff and for my family and teacher, too."

His classmate Marlana Robinson, 7, could not decide what she wanted to buy. She thought she would get some presents for her mother and brother, and, "I might get my friend something," she said.

King counselor Heidi Guse was excited about the gift cards, particularly since they went to every student in the building.

"Oh my gosh, it's amazing," Guse said. "We just think it's awesome, a very generous gift. It's wonderful because sometimes only certain kids get things, but this time it's the whole school."