Pipefitters Union Holiday Charity Drive Provides Food and Toys for Boston Families

In light of surging COVID-19 rates, record-high food insecurity, Union’s donations bring joy to families facing economic and health impacts of the pandemic    

BOSTON, MA — Pipefitters Local 537, one of Boston’s largest unions, held a charitable drive Saturday at their Union Hall to collect donations to aid struggling community members this holiday season. The initiative comes at a time when thousands of families are facing food and financial insecurity with the impact of COVID-19. 

“This has been a challenging year for many working families, and it can be even harder during the holidays,” said Pipefitters Local 537 Business Manager/Financial Secretary-Treasurer Tom Kerr. “Giving a bag of groceries or a brand-new toy to a child this holiday season is the least we can do for our neighbors.” 

Local 537 collected an estimated $20,000 of brand-new toys for Marine Toys for Tots, including Lego sets, games, dolls, and sports equipment, in addition to hundreds of pounds of non-perishable food items for Catholic Charities Food Pantry in Dorchester. 

“I’m blown away by the donations and kindness shown by our fellow members this weekend,” said Local 537 Organizer and Toys for Tots Coordinator Chris Brennan, whose one son is an Air Force veteran and the other is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. “As parents, we always want our kids, and every kid, to have a great, fun holiday.” In the coming days, Brennan, Marine veteran and Local 537 Inside Guard Danny O’Brien, and a team of union members will work as Santa’s helpers, coordinating with Toys for Tots to distribute the toy donations. 

Dorchester, East Boston, and Hyde Park have some of the city’s highest rates of COVID-19. The severe economic impact of the pandemic has left many families without the income they depend on to pay daily living expenses. As food bank visits remain at an all-time high, Massachusetts has the highest percentage of residents facing hunger in the country, nearly one million people.

Throughout the pandemic, Local 537 has been working to help local communities. Its Charitable Foundation donated $20,000 to the Greater Boston Food Bank ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, which provided 60,000 nutritious meals to at-risk residents across the Commonwealth. The Union also donated much-needed PPE (gloves, goggles and face shields) to Quincy’s Manet Community Health Care Center.

About Pipefitters Local 537: 

Pipefitters Local 537 represents over 3,000 members across Massachusetts and is affiliated with the United Association. From medical campuses to area universities, we are proud to have worked on pipefitting, welding and HVAC-Refrigeration projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the region for over 100 years.

Mayor Marty Walsh and Pipefitters Local 537 Unveil Free, State-of-the-Art Training Center for East Boston Residents

Job-seekers Urged to Avoid Tuition Debt – Visit Pipefitters537.org to Learn More About Free Training, Industry-Leading Wages & Benefits; Hundreds of Union Construction Jobs Available

Welding instructor Pete Elwood demonstrates at Pipefitters Local 537's open house.

DORCHESTER, MA – Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Pipefitters Local 537 urged East Boston residents to take advantage of the union's new FREE state-of-the-art training facility to jump start their careers in construction without going into debt on Saturday.  

They were joined at the facility's unveiling by hundreds of job-seekers, community members, union contractors, Local 537 members and families. 

“This facility is more than a training center,” said Mayor Walsh. “This is about getting trained for world-class jobs and a changing industry and being able to adapt and change in the industry. That’s what this facility represents.” 

Hundreds of event attendees toured the facilities, met with instructors and current apprentices, and learned about life-changing job opportunities in the region. 

Brian Kelly, Business Manager for Pipefitters Local 537, noted that training at the union’s facility provides debt-free, world-class instruction.

"With this new campus, we've more than tripled our hands-on training spaces, improving our ability to support members in every way possible," said Business Manager Brian Kelly. "This project is a true testament to our training program, curriculum, and world-class instructional staff. We're thrilled to be creating opportunities instead of forcing people to go into thousands of dollars of debt at a technical college

For more information about career opportunities with Pipefitters Local 537, visit Pipefitters537.org or call (617) 787-5370. 


About Pipefitters Local 537 

Pipefitters of Local 537 represents over 2,800 members across Massachusetts and is affiliated with the United Association. From medical campuses to area universities, Local 537 is proud to have worked on projects of all shapes and sizes throughout the region for over 100 years. Local 537 continues to provide career opportunities to apprentices and journeypersons in the industry and is determined to ensure the best wages and benefits for Pipefitters, Welders and HVAC- Refrigeration Technicians.

Source: Celeste Aguzino, 617-455-1498, celeste@617mediagroup.com

Local 537 Business Manager Brian Kelly addresses crowd

Local 537's new training facility in Dorchester

Mayor Walsh in pipe-cutting ceremony