SMART members across the United States and Canada regularly enjoy all that the great outdoors has to offer: hunting, fishing, hiking and beyond. In a demonstration of our union’s values, SMART Local 85 (Atlanta, Ga.) member Dee Lee recently extended that same passion to area families.
On April 11, 2026, Lee worked with the Union Sportsmen’s Alliance (USA) and fellow union volunteers to put together the inaugural Greater Atlanta Kids Nature Day. Alongside the United States Army Corps of Engineers, union volunteers introduced 100 attendees to the joys of fishing and getting outside.
“I relived the excitement, accomplishment and achievement of catching my first fish,” Lee said. “It’s special knowing that these kids are going to have something they can look forward to for the rest of their lives.”
Kids Nature Day was the third community service effort Lee has helped organize in the last several years. Previously, Lee and fellow union workers installed an AccuDock boat dock at Lake Allatoona near Atlanta, and Lee and Local 85’s Nathan Allred put together a 5k for suicide prevention and mental health awareness just last year.
The 2026 Kids Nature Day event was part of a series of free, community-based youth outreach events organized under USA’s flagship conservation program, Work Boots on the Ground. Each kid took home a free rod and reel, plus a drawstring bag full of goodies.
Community member Renee White saw Kids Nature Day as the perfect opportunity to connect her nephew, Josiah, with the outdoors. As Josiah danced in his black cowboy hat and brown boots after catching a fish, she took in the moment and the time they spent together as a family.
“It means everything,” she said. “We’ll cherish the memories forever.”
For SMART members, solidarity means action — from the jobsite, to the cab of a locomotive, to city council meetings, to marches, rallies and well beyond. And on March 13 in Detroit, it meant taking on harsh conditions to make life better for area students: Local 80 staff and nine members volunteered to help clean up a local park ahead of the annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The week prior, Local 80 Wayne County Business Agent Scott Lewis connected with leadership at Maybury Elementary School, asking where and how the school most needed help. In response, the school made a simple request: help cleaning the adjacent Murphy Park to ensure it was safe and welcoming for students to enjoy during recess and after school.
Local 80 answered the call.
Although the days leading up to the cleanup brought mild weather, conditions took a sharp turn the day of — dropping to 15 degrees with 40 mile-per-hour winds and scattered snow showers. But that didn’t stop Local 80. In a true demonstration of what solidarity means, the members took on the weather, working diligently to restore the park.
That effort made a real impact. Through their hard work, the Local 80 volunteers helped create a cleaner, safer and more inviting environment not only for the students of Maybury Elementary, but also the surrounding Detroit community.
Local 20 (Indianapolis) Instructor Cam Williams brings the mentorship and leadership of the training center to his work with Boys II Men, a local organization that aims to help middle school boys grow into the best version of themselves.
In SMART, the solidarity that defines union membership extends well beyond our fellow brothers and sisters. SMART members pride ourselves on the work we do in our communities, whether it’s food drives, Habitat for Humanity projects or volunteering to mentor youth across North America.
Cam Williams, an instructor at SMART Local 20 in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a prime example, serving as a mentor and board member for a local organization called Boys II Men.
Cam Williams, furthest left, mentors Boys II Men cadets
Founded in 1995 by “four Pike Township teachers who saw a need for middle school boys to have male role models invested in their lives,” Boys II Men “seeks to cultivate the development of adolescent boys in a safe and exciting team environment by promoting civic engagement, personal responsibility, positive relationships, respect for women, and a lifelong appreciation for learning,” according to its website.
What that means in practice? A lot of things, Williams explained. Providing safe spaces for youth transitioning from middle school to high school so they can talk about the challenges in their lives, from school to home and beyond. Helping program participants develop leadership skills, practice public speaking, and be active and attentive listeners. Putting on college visits, outings to baseball and football games, and mission trips to Nicaragua. From personal finance management and tying ties to team-building outings in the area, Boys II Men facilitates a huge range of activities to help young people be the best they can be.
“We seek to give them an opportunity to see the world and expose them to skills and an education that’s more than what’s right in front of them,” Williams explained.
Coming full circle via the sheet metal trade
For Williams, Boys II Men isn’t just a local organization that does good work in the community.
“I’m the only mentor that was originally a student of the program,” he said. “I started the program in the 1999-2000 school year, when I was in 6th grade, and have consistently returned to help whenever I can.”
Even after finishing the program, Williams stayed connected as a “lifetime member.” Boys II men uses a points system: Participants bring personal progress reports to Friday night sessions, read books each month, participate in community service work, help with the fundraising events and more, with each activity assigned a point value. When participants reach the end of 8th grade, the top 10 “cadets” with the most points can become lifetime members: 9th – 12th grade students who continue to get mentorship through the program, but also provide help to the new cadets.
“Once I graduated high school I had to wait until the age of 21 to become a mentor in the program, but that didn’t stop me from showing up to the Friday night sessions and interacting with the cadets and other life timers,” Williams said.
Williams, right, with fellow mentors
Fast forward a couple decades: Williams has enjoyed a successful career in the trade, ranging from working in the field to his relatively new position as an instructor. He credits at least part of that to his formative years with Boys II Men.
“The program has helped me a ton and still is to this day,” he said. “I have realized that Boys II Men helped shape me to be the great Local 20 instructor and mentor that I am today. Those same skills [I learned] apply to my apprentices; they help me to have compassion and patience with everyone. Taking the time to know a person’s situation and trying to understand and help versus judging a book by its cover.”
Building connections, building a future
When Williams joined the sheet metal trade, he didn’t have as much time to spend on Boys II Men. But two years ago, when he became an instructor, he jumped back in — both as a mentor, and then as a member of the board.
Now, he’s aiming to strengthen the connections between Boys II Men and Local 20, helping youth learn more about the sheet metal trade and forging a strong future for both organizations.
Boys II Men graduates pose for a picture
“I have been trying to connect the program with our local training facility,” Williams said. “I have been approved to start giving tours of the school, holding mockup interviews to teach those skills, and putting together small projects for students to work on and take home — showing the cadets all the equipment we have and what we do with it.”
He considers that relationship a win-win.
“Cadets will know that becoming a sheet metal worker is an option, and that they can make good money with no college debt. The local would benefit from this tremendously; we would not have random applicants but ones that understand what it takes to be successful and what it means to be a good human and to bring that culture with them.”
That isn’t just about building the future of Local 20’s membership and exposing young people to the union sheet metal industry. It’s also about both organizations’ values.
“Boys II Men’s core values are to HELP — Humility, Encouragement, Love and Purpose,” said Williams. “These all align with those of our local and training facility. We preach self-awareness to our brothers and sisters, ask them to demonstrate empathy and have a willingness to listen and learn from those around them.”
A foundation of mentorship
Mentorship is one of the core pillars of our union. Since sheet metal workers first organized back in the 1800s, our union has thrived on a tradition of solidarity and members helping one another, whether teaching in the training center or looking out for one another on the job.
Williams is helping continue that legacy, at the JATC and beyond. It’s another reminder that SMART members practice our union values both on and off the job.
SMART members often go underappreciated in North American society — and when we are recognized, it’s mostly for the jobs we do.
Not everyone knows what sheet metal workers are, or the vital role railroaders play in the national supply chain. But they do see members on jobsites building new schools and hospitals; in the cab of a freight train, transporting cargo across the country; at the wheel of a bus, bringing Americans wherever they need to be.
What they do not always see is the most powerful part of union membership: We take care of each other.
Sheet metal and Transportation Division members made that clear in late 2025, when the Buffalo, New York, SMART Army sprang into action to help a brother in need.
“I didn’t see the light”
Dave Garringer, a member of SMART-TD Local 1393, was working as a conductor for CSX Transportation when he made a stop in Rochester, New York, in May of 2023.
As Garringer stepped off the train, he felt the ground shift, and his foot folded “in a very odd way,” he told WNYLaborToday.com. Unfortunately, that was just the beginning for our TD brother — over time, the injury worsened, and in November of 2025, he had to get his left leg amputated below his knee.
Garringer began using a wheelchair, but his Buffalo, New York, home — built in 1890 — didn’t accommodate the wheelchair ramp Garringer needed to get in and out of his house.
“I didn’t see any light. My wife didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel,” he said in an interview with SMART News.
That’s when the SMART Army got involved.
“We’re not in a tunnel anymore”
SMART-TD’s Dan Banks started spreading the word that a fellow SMART member needed help. Shortly after, Garringer said, Local 71 showed up.
“They didn’t know who I was,” he said. “But there they were in my front yard in the cold, doing something for me and my family out of the kindness of their hearts.”
Local 71, the SMART sheet metal local based out of Buffalo, has helped members with wheelchair-accessible ramps in the past, along with other SMART Army events aimed at supporting the community.
“I remember him saying this was the first time he felt hopeful in two years, so that kind of hit me right away and got me excited about [the project],” Local 71 Organizer Adam Kerr said. “[SMART] contacted us on October 30th, and then by November 14th we were completely done with the project.”
Kerr added: “The biggest value that you can get out of a union is that collective membership you can lean on. You’re not just coworkers, you’re brothers and sisters.”
Garringer said the display of solidarity has made a huge difference, both materially and otherwise.
“We’re not in a tunnel anymore, and we realized we’re not in this alone — we’re not in this by ourselves,” he said. “And that means a lot in a situation like this, where your whole life has been turned upside-down and it will never be the same.”
“This is what we do”
Garringer has been a proud member of SMART-TD for years. He told WNYLaborToday that he knew well the benefits of having union representation on the worksite and at the bargaining table, particularly when negotiating new contracts. But the wheelchair ramp went a step further.
“I’m very proud of my union, which is a wonderful thing,” he said. “They’re there to fight for you when your contract comes up, but when people need help — they are there.”
SMART-TD’s Banks joined the wheelchair effort, traveling from Cleveland to Buffalo, where he was one of several members interviewed by Buffalo ABC affiliate WKBW.
“This is what we do,” he told WKBW. “We’re a union. We take care of each other.”
On December 22, 2025, the Local 5 (East Tennessee) SMART Army hosted a food drive for the local community, putting our union’s values into practice.
“The idea came from one of our first-year apprentices, Briley Lawson,” said Local 5 Organizer Hunter Gossett. “The local donated $1,000 worth of food, and the membership stepped up in a big way: We were able to give food to 148 individuals for the holiday season.”
That’s the SMART Army in action: building better communities.
On March 26, 2026, Local 105 (Southern California) SMART Army Coordinator and Organizer Eric Farrar was honored with the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) Volunteer of the Year Award, presented by California State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez of Council District 25.
Farrar received this recognition for his years of dedication to building and leading the SMART Army, organizing impactful community efforts that truly make a difference. His work includes coordinating food packing events supporting Shepherd’s Pantry during Thanksgiving, setting up donation drives for families affected by the Eaton Fire and contributing to the decoration of floats for the iconic Rose Parade.
Pictured: Farrar, second from right, with (L-R) Local 105 Business Manager/President Al Hernandez, Calif. State Senator Sasha Renée Pérez and Local 105 Political Director Fernando Ochoa
Most recently, Farrar played a key role in helping SMART Local 105 become a presenting sponsor of the Glendora Memorial Day 5K, giving back to the very school district where the local is headquartered.
Brother Farrar’s efforts highlight the local’s commitment to supporting and uplifting the community, and the SGV Volunteer of the Year award is a testament to his leadership, service and the positive impact of union solidarity in action. Great work, brother!
For SMART members, solidarity means action — from the jobsite, to the cab of a locomotive, to city council meetings, to marches, rallies and well beyond. And on March 13 in Detroit, it meant taking on harsh conditions to make life better for area students: Local 80 staff and nine members volunteered to help clean up a local park ahead of the annual Detroit St. Patrick’s Day Parade.
The week prior, Local 80 Wayne County Business Agent Scott Lewis connected with leadership at Maybury Elementary School, asking where and how the school most needed help. In response, the school made a simple request: help cleaning the adjacent Murphy Park to ensure it was safe and welcoming for students to enjoy during recess and after school.
Local 80 answered the call.
Although the days leading up to the cleanup brought mild weather, conditions took a sharp turn the day of — dropping to 15 degrees with 40 mile-per-hour winds and scattered snow showers. But that didn’t stop Local 80. In a true demonstration of what solidarity means, the members took on the weather, working diligently to restore the park.
That effort made a real impact. Through their hard work, the Local 80 volunteers helped create a cleaner, safer and more inviting environment not only for the students of Maybury Elementary, but also the surrounding Detroit community.
SMART Local 67 (San Antonio) members volunteered their time and expertise with Habitat for Humanity in early September, helping build homes for those in need. Great work, brothers and sisters!
Each year, Special Olympics Kentucky hosts the Big Brown Truck Pull to raise money for local athletes. Teams of 15 take turns pulling an 18-wheeler UPS cargo truck 12 feet; the teams with the fastest pull times win trophies in different categories, with awards also given for fundraising, team spirit and more.
SMART Local 110 showed up in force for the Paducah event, taking third place in the pull and second place in most money raised. Together with other teams and participants, SMART members helped provide funding for Special Olympics athletes to compete in basketball, bowling, softball, cheer leading and track and field year-round on the local, regional and state level, traveling to tournaments in Bowling Green, Richmond and Louisville.
That’s what our union stands for. Great work, Local 110!
In Washington, a team of volunteers led by the SMART Local 66 Women’s Committee regularly hosts workshops at Boys and Girls Clubs across Snohomish County — educating both participants and the counselors about how fun it can be to work with your hands.
“The kids get the opportunity to build something with their hands, and the parents and counselors get the opportunity to learn about who we are and why it’s awesome being a sheet metal worker,” explained Local 66 member and International Training Institute Recruitment and Retention Specialist Tammy Meyen.
Boys and Girls Clubs provide voluntary after-school programs for young people, offering kids safe spaces where they can have fun, meet mentors and find pathways to good, fulfilling lives. That mission aligns closely with SMART apprenticeship programs, which help equip members with pathways to rewarding careers — and lives — in the sheet metal trade.
Stephanie Hobbs, a journeyworker and Local 66 Women’s Committee Outreach and Recruitment lead, started organizing workshops with area Boys and Girls Clubs several months ago. Working closely with Boys and Girls Clubs of Snohomish County Director of Life and Workforce Readiness Jordyn Creager, the women’s committee has organized volunteers to host classes at the Everett (Cascade), Arlington, Marysville, Lake Stevens, Monroe, Tulalip and Sultan clubs, with plans to visit the remaining county clubs in 2026.
“During each class, we share a bit about who we are and what we do as a union,” Hobbs said, “explaining the work behind heating and air systems, roofing, siding and more. The kids then get hands-on experience making metal roses, with stems made from 3/8-inch all-thread, and petals and leaves cut from 24-gauge galvanized steel. They texture and shape the metal with ball-peen hammers, assemble their roses using nuts and washers, and add more depth by bending the petals with pliers to the shape they like.”
By giving local kids hands-on experience with the sheet metal trade — literally — Local 66 volunteers hope to change the lives of Boys and Girls Club attendees and benefit our union.
“The kids, ranging in age from 5 to 18, have shown incredible excitement and pride in their work. It’s been inspiring to see how much they enjoy learning about the trade and creating something they can take home,” Hobbs explained.
“None of this would be possible without the generous support of MacDonald-Miller Facility Solutions, who have provided all of the materials for every class,” she added. “I’m also deeply grateful to our Local 66 volunteers who continue to show up, give their time and go above and beyond for these events.”
