IBEW News & Events
Here at IBEW Local Union 654 we believe it is very important to give back to the community. For over 80 years we have been very fortunate to have been given the chance to work in such a great environment. We feel that with our success, it is a privilege to give back to the community by cleaning local parks ,streets and by doing maintenance in the local schools and churches. It is our goal to continue giving back to the community through our effort.
By KATHLEEN E. CAREY | delcotimes.com
November 14, 2021
UPPER CHICHESTER – It may be a little early to break out the Christmas tunes but the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 654 is asking the community’s help to help make the holidays brighter for those less fortunate.
The IBEW is collecting new, unwrapped toys for a distribution extravaganza featuring 93.3 WMMR’s Jacky Bam Bam as toys are distributed throughout the Delco community.
It all started out with one Marine and a pandemic food drive.
When the pandemic hit and everything was shut down, IBEW members made a choice.
“We were shocked,” IBEW Business Manager Paul Mullen said. “For 654, instead of taking 2020 and feeling sorry for ourselves, we decided to give back.”
One way they did that was by providing meals for frontline employees in the Crozer Health system and at Riddle Hospital. They also held a food drive in June 2020.
“I couldn’t get over the generosity of the whole community,” Mullen said. The union was able to collect and distribute more than 30 trucks full of food while raising $15,000 for more.
They had wanted to do something for Christmas but were unable to do so. Then, this year, IBEW member and Marine Fred Ries stepped forward.
Ries, who’s been in the IBEW for three years, served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2011 through 2017.When he was in the Reserves, he participated in the Toys for Tots with his fellow Marines at the Folsom center. And, he continued to collect toys to take them over for the Marine distribution.
“I’ve done this myself,” Ries said. “I’d go down there. Every year, they already had the toys. Volunteers would separate the toys. So, I started doing my own toy collections for them.”
As he was finishing his Reserves, he began his apprenticeship with the IBEW, where Mullen asked him to start a Veterans Committee.
“I got the word out and guys started bringing me toys,” Ries said.
And, the thought came to him to make it bigger.
“One of the first things I said to (Mullen was) ‘I’ve been doing this Toys for Tots, if you get the whole local behind it, it’ll just be that much more better,” Ries said.
Now, there’s a collection box stationed at the IBEW hall.
“It worked out great,” Ries said. “The union has a lot of members. We’re able to get this whole thing going.”
And, everything stays local.
“All the toys we collect will be for children in Delaware County,” Ries said. “It goes directly back into our community. It takes a lot of the burden off the parents who maybe can’t afford to get the kids everything. It’s for parents as much as the kids.”
He said those wanting to donate and those wanting to receive a toy can go to toysfortots.org for information about campaigns in their area.
Today, the public as well as IBEW members and families are welcome to the toy drive event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“You can come and drop the toys off and say hi,” Ries said.
In the meantime, Mullen said the community can drop toys off at the IBEW hall during business hours, although they’re welcome to drop them off at night or Saturdays as there’s usually people there.
“We can always adjust our schedule,” Mullen said.
The IBEW members also thanked the Fraternal Order of Police and state Reps. Craig Williams, R-160 of Upper Chichester, Chris Quinn, R-168 of Middletown and Jennifer O’Mara, D-165, of Springfield for helping with the toy drive by collecting toys and having collection bins in their offices.
In honor of Superintendent Scott Mahoney
he COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic was held on Wednesday, June 9th from Noon - 6PM at the IBEW Local 654 Hall in Boothwyn, PA.
The single dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine was given. Personell who got vaccinated recived a free buffet lunch and beverages. They were also entered into a raffle to win $1,000, a Yeti cooler and Union soccer tickets.
Event hosted by:
The Delaware County Fraternal Order of Police, Delco Police Chief's Association, the District Attorney's Office, Delaware County Council, IAFF Locals 1400 and 2493 in partnership with the IBEW Local 654.
By KATHLEEN E. CAREY | delcotimes.com
November 14, 2021
Boothwyn, PA — May 29, 2020 — From the very beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Local IBEW Local 654 — the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers located in Upper Chichester Township, PA — has been doing everything they can to support the people in their community. After delivering hot meals — with the help of NECA — to the hospital workers at Crozer-Chester Medical Center and Riddle Hospital, IBEW Local 654 will now be hosting a food drive on June 6th from 10am – 1pm. This food drive will be held at their facility located at 3279 Chichester Ave. in Boothwyn, PA, and the items that are dropped o will be donated to local food pantries throughout the community.
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“After seeing the generosity of the food drive conducted by Rep. O’Mara, there was no reason Local 654 couldn’t do the same thing using our resources,” commented Tommy Loughead, a member of IBEW Local 654’s Executive Board. “Hopefully we’ll have a big turnout from our community and members.”
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Local 654 was happy to do its part and make a positive impact for Rep. O’Mara’s food drive by donating $1,500 to three of the food banks that Rep O’Mara set up. This participation comes as no surprise given that IBEW LU 654 is no stranger to helping its community. In fact, it has been cleaning local parks, streets and doing maintenance in local schools and churches for over 80 years now.
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“IBEW LU 654 is founded in community service and all of our members love getting involved and giving back to people in our community,” said Paul Mullen, Local 654’s Business Manager. “We know that food pantries are in need of resources more than ever, and our members aren’t the type to just sit back and not get involved, so we wanted to do our part, which is how this food drive came to fruition.”
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"All of us are so grateful for the tremendous support we have been receiving from our local industries and businesses including IBEW Local 654,” said Michael J. Duncan, President and CEO, Chester County Hospital. “The donations that we have been given have gone a long way in supporting not only our front line sta but employees throughout the hospital who have been impacted by COVID.”
Due to the challenges that electrical workers are facing, the NECA was excited to team up with Local 654, stating: “The local NECA member businesses are proud to support IBEW Local 654’s decision to give back to the community,” said Ed Collison, the Chairman of NECA’s Chester Division. “Many of our project sites have been halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many Local 654 members are temporarily unemployed. Paul [Mullen] and the leadership team at Local 654 are able to see beyond our temporary setback, to the greater need within the community. It’s a small example of IBEW Local 654’s dedication to the community where their members live and work.”
Although IBEW Local 654’s main goal is to oer apprenticeships and training programs to help electrical contractors strengthen their knowledge and talent, Local 654 also strongly believes that it is very important to give back to the community, and it has been doing so for over 80 years. Whether it is through cleaning local parks and streets, doing maintenance in local schools and churches or providing hot lunches to hospital workers in times of crisis, Local 654 members — of which there are just under 700 — feel that it is a privilege to help the community in whatever way they can.
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