Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12 donate 200 bicycles to city children

Boston, MA Hundreds of city kids living in public housing had a brighter Christmas thanks to kind-hearted members of Plumbers & Gasfitters Local 12 of Boston who donated 200 bicycles to the Boston Housing Authority for the holidays.

“This is our way of giving back,” Local 12 business manager James Vaughan said. “Our members live in these communities and we are grateful we have jobs and resources to help others. At Christmas time, there is nothing more rewarding than being able to give back and make the holiday special for a child. Thanks to all of our members for helping out with this important and fun holiday event.”

Dozens of members of Local 12, the largest plumbers union in Massachusetts, participated in the union’s first-ever Build-a-Bike charity event, gathering at the Dorchester union hall to assemble 200 bikes that were donated to the Boston Housing Authority. The bikes were delivered to kids living in BHA properties by members of Local 12 and BHA workers.

The children’s bikes and helmets were purchased at Ashmont Cycles for $70,000, which was raised at the recent Local 12 golf tournament. 

Among the Local 12 members who helped in the Build-a-Bike event were: James Vaughan, Joseph Kyne, Rick Carter, Darren MacDonald, Frank Amato, Harry Brett, Thomas McCarthy, Tim Fandel, Andrew Fontana, Patrick Vaughan, Michael Vaughan, Ray Chandler-Melancon, Sean Glennon, Dean Renzello, Anthony Iannalfo, Andrea Turner, Patricia Canning-Williams, Michael Amato, Patrick Doolan, Harry Carter, Benjamin O’Brien, Andrew Devlin, Harry Hennessy, Marc LaSala, Claudio M. Betencourt Rodriguez, Matt McGonagle, Ryan Baker, Finn Harrington, Craig Regan, Loretta Lennon, Cillian Collins, Chris Brett, Michael Picariello, Timothy Bouzan, Chris and Summer Redfearn, Malek Ferhani, Lawrence Garside, Aarin Garside, Vivian Garside, Carl Gravenkemper, Thomas Nguyen, Paul MacPhee, Patrick Dean and Franklin Marcelo.