MOLINE, IL- Local single mom Amanda Cunningham, 25, has never had it easy. As a young child she became a ward of the state when her mother went to prison and her father was absent in her life. After being abused as a child, Cunningham knew she could only count on herself if she was ever going to make it as an adult.
When her pipes recently started leaking in the home she bought on her own after years of working, and there were signs of possible mold that could make her five-year old daughter ill, she knew she had to do something. "I didn't even know exactly what was wrong with the plumbing, but I knew I couldn't afford to have the work done," said Cunningham.
United Way of the Quad Cities was initially contacted by Skip-a-Long Child Development Services where Cunningham's daughter attends pre-kindergarten. They were willing to pay for all the supplies needed to address the plumbing issues, but needed to find a qualified plumber to make the repairs. That's where Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 25 immediately stepped in to help. Plumbers Dave Keefer and Chuck McKnight heard her story and volunteered their time, expertise and services to fix the issues. "We put in a new garbage disposal, reworked the plumbing under the kitchen sink and bathrooms, installed two new toilets and had the drains snaked," says Keefer.
For more than 111 years Local Union 25 has guaranteed the professionalism of its journeymen, and the value of their work through a training program that is thoroughly unique in the plumbing and pipefitting industries. Local 25 has continually shown their commitment to the community through charitable efforts such as golf tournaments in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters and donating time and services to help people like Cunningham.
Cunningham currently works full-time and goes to school online towards her Bachelor's degree in behavioral science. "I never ask or expect help from anyone, so to have the plumbers at Local Union 25 donate their time to help me is the perfect Christmas present. They are caring professional people who have made my life a little easier this holiday season."
For more information on Local Union 25 please visit: www.lu25.org.
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