Sep 27, 2021

The Northwest Indiana chapter of U. S. Steel’s SERVE (Strengthening and Enhancing Relationships of Veteran Employees) Employee Resource Group (ERG) hosted charity gate collections at the company’s Gary Works and Midwest Plant to commemorate the 20th anniversary of Patriot Day on Sept. 11.

Fifty volunteers stationed at 10 different gates across two plants on a single day received employee donations totaling $12,680.  Plant leadership has generously agreed to donate an additional $15,000, bringing the grand total to $27,680. 

The money raised was divided evenly between two organizations, who recently received their checks (see photos above):

• Disabled American Veterans Post 102: A nonprofit organization where disabled veterans help other disabled veterans with job assistance, transportation needs, and more.  Chapter Commander John Papka said this is the largest one-time donation in chapter history!
• Veterans Village: An organization with 44 units of multi-family housing for low-income veterans in Gary, Indiana.

Hard hat tip to Raymond Tarnow, the Gary Works Location Chair of SERVE, for organizing this collection, all the volunteers for their service, and especially to employees whose donations will make a real difference for local veterans and their families.

Photos above

Photo 1: Ray Tarnow (fourth from the left, Safety & Industrial Hygiene Specialist at Gary Works and self-identified disabled U.S. Navy veteran) presents a check to DAV Chapter 102 Commander John Papka (third from the left), who was joined by other chapter members.  

Photo 2: Ray Tarnow (standing, second from the left) posed with several current Veterans Village residents who accepted U. S. Steel's donation check on behalf of their community.