Union Pacific Employees Sharing the Spirit, One Community Impact at a Time

Large | North Platte Transportation Employees Main Image

North Platte Transportation employees volunteered at a variety of community events this holiday season. From left, Corban Hughes, yardman; Dave Deibert, locomotive engineer; Todd Berol, yardman; Lori Wood, janitor; and Ralph Franzen, conductor.

In railroading towns across Union Pacific’s 23-state network, our employees supported local families in need of cheer this holiday season.

Thrice the Cheer: North Platte’s Impressive Community Outreach

Small | North Platte Counselor Veronica Gale

North Platte Public School District Counselor Veronica Gale with presents donated by UP employees.

Bailey Yard’s annual Cheer-Giving kicked off with a bang as work groups from around the railroad’s North Platte location engaged in community service and giving. Their efforts included an Adopt-A-Family effort, community giving booths at a local event, as well as merry deliveries to a nearby nursing home.

“Every year, we partner with North Platte’s Public School District to support families who could use extra holiday cheer,” said Faye Werlinger, manager-Field Operations Support, Transportation. “School Counselor Veronica Gale helps identify families who could use a boost, and she worked on Santa’s behalf to deliver gift items.”

On Dec. 22, Cheer-Giving volunteers reached out to the public. Bailey Yard employees served hot chocolate and snacks to the public at Cody Park’s Christmas Village. Yardmaster and Total Safety Culture (TSC) Coordinator Melissa White helped coordinate the event. The North Platte team also distributed free coats, hats and gloves from an event booth to warm up the season for those in need.

A kind word goes a long way. To wrap up Cheer-Giving, the Bailey Yard team descended on North Platte Care Center and Centennial Park Retirement Home with cards and cheerful gifts, making things bright for the 140 residents. Office Supervisor Coleen Bringewatt, Clerk Elizabeth Thomas, Manager-Field Operations Support Faye Werlinger, Manager-Shop Operations Christine Marshall, and the Mechanical and Locomotive Maintenance teams rounded up a variety of holiday donations.

“Everyone from Bailey Yard was involved, writing holiday greetings to shower residents with good cheer,” Werlinger said. “Our goal was to brighten up their day. We’re looking forward to more partnerships and community projects this year.”

Large | North Platte Photo Collage

Top row, from left: John Brown, senior manager-Train Operations, Transportation; Ethan Moody, manager-Train Operations, Transportation; Brown; and Faye Werlinger, manager-Field Operations Support, Transportation, wrap and drop off donations for Bailey Yard’s Adopt-A-Family drive.

Bottom row, from left: Misty Gartrell, clerk, Mechanical, and vice president, LEAD; Lane Black, conductor, Transportation; and Justin Zahl, locomotive engineer, Transportation, write and deliver holiday greetings for residents at North Platte Care Center and Centennial Park Retirement Home as part of a joint Bailey Yard and North Platte LEAD Cheer-Giving drive.

Proviso Toys for Tots Drive Adds in a Little Fun

Small | Toys Donated by Proviso Diesel Shop employees

Toys donated by Proviso Diesel Shop employees.

Illinois’ Proviso Diesel Shop employees celebrated the season with a Toys for Tots drive benefiting their local community.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the amount of toys that were brought in over such a short period of time,” said Derek Schumacher, systems developer, Mechanical. “The Proviso Diesel Shop came through.”

Thanks to the Proviso Diesel Shop, children in their local community were gifted Barbie dolls, action figures, baby toys, dress-up clothing, toy cars, sporting equipment and many other fun items.

Proviso supported the Church Street Brewing Toys for Tots drive.

New Orleans BEN Chapter: Bringing Fun Tidings to Texas’ Girls Haven

Fourth time is the charm: New Orleans’ Black Employee Network (BEN) chapter shared the fun with nonprofit Girls Haven in Beaumont, Texas.

“All charitable donations have a huge impact,” said Phillip Wright, brakeman, Transportation, and vice president, New Orleans BEN chapter. “The New Orleans BEN chapter territory extends into Texas, so Girls Haven is centrally located for our members.

“Through fundraising, we were able to donate a variety of $25 gift cards valued at $350, allowing the Girls Haven participants to choose their own fun.”

Girls Haven serves girls referred by foster care, the juvenile justice system and local counseling services with residential care, professional counseling and development support.

Large | Girls Haven Holiday Gift Cards

From left, New Orleans BEN Vice President Phillip Wright, brakeman, Transportation; David Comeaux, locomotive engineer, Transportation; community member McKenzie Martin; Robert Ellis, superintendent-Service Lanes, Harriman Dispatching Center; and Markel Price, senior manager-Train Operations, Transportation, provide Kaylee Henry, public relations, Girls Haven, with holiday gift cards for local children at Girls Haven in Beaumont, Texas.

Harriman Dispatching Center: Full-Throttle Adopt-A-Family Giving

Small | HDC UPVETS Toys for Tots

Harriman Dispatching Center employees fundraised and shopped for a variety of presents supporting two local families.

Omaha’s Harriman Dispatching Center (HDC) celebrated the season by supporting two local families through a UPVETS Adopt-A-Family drive for the Air Force’s 155th Air Refueling Wing in Lincoln, Nebraska.

“I’m proud of our HDC team members for helping these families navigate the holiday season,” said Tom Lischer, senior vice president, HDC and Network Operations. “Great work, HDC.”

HDC employees fundraised more than $1,400 and purchased more than 90 presents for UPVETS’ drive, spreading good cheer to six children and their parents. Gift items included gift cards, diapers, pajamas, toys and household essentials.

“We were pleased to ensure a happy holiday for a few of our service members and their families,” said Nick Smith, superintendent-Lane Services, HDC. “Thank you to the team members that donated, our employees showed great spirit for this cause.”

Learn more about UP employee’s Sharing the Spirit kindness in Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha; three Nebraska cities: North Platte, Bellevue and Lincoln; the Toys For Tots campaign by our UPVETS Chapter in Houston, Texas; Adopt-A-Family efforts in De Soto, Fort Worth and Omaha; as well as holiday cheer in Houston, North Platte, Gretna and Omaha.

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