IDAHO FALLS — The U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho site employees and contractors are donating time, money, food and gifts to make Christmas a little brighter for many eastern Idaho families.
This year, employees “adopted” 60 eastern Idaho families — including 198 children — from Arco, Rigby, Ririe, Blackfoot, Fort Hall, Firth, Shelley and the greater Pocatello and Idaho Falls communities.
Battelle Energy Alliance (which runs Idaho National Laboratory) and Fluor Idaho (Idaho Cleanup Project contractor) donated $6,000 in corporate funds to purchase food boxes for each family. The United Steelworkers (USW) Union and its members donated a turkey for each family and use of its union hall for packing boxes.
Volunteer employees represent DOE-Idaho, Battelle Energy Alliance (INL), Fluor Idaho (Idaho Cleanup Project), Fluor Marine Propulsion, LLC (Naval Nuclear Laboratory) and other contractors. Site contractors have sponsored a Christmas for Families program for the past 30 years. Local merchants also participate by offering donated or discounted goods and services.
Volunteers will gather at the USW Union Hall Friday and Saturday to assemble the Christmas for Families food/gift boxes. Volunteer pickup will take place on Saturday morning. Media are invited to interview participants and take photos or video on Friday and Saturday:
What: Christmas for Families food/gift box assembly and pickup by INL site employee volunteers.
When: 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 14. Food delivered to USW Union Hall, food/gift boxes assembled. 9 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 15. Volunteers pick up boxes for delivery.
Where: USW Union Hall, 1855 West 17th South, Idaho Falls, Idaho
DIRECTIONS to USW UNION HALL:
The union hall is located behind Skyline High School. From Broadway, go south to Skyline Drive and continue through the stoplight on Skyline and Pancheri Drive. The road bends to the right twice, and the USW Union Hall is located just after the second bend.
