BATTLE CREEK - A food bank serving the members of IBEW Local 445 is paying dividends for electricians who need a helping hand.

With construction activity often slowing to a trickle in the area and members regularly running out of jobless benefits and SUB pay, two retirees came up with an idea to help Local 445's jobless workers through lean times.

Chris Tramel and Rex McAdow - both veteran volunteers at a local countywide food bank - set up a food bank specifically for Local 445 members last year in the basement of the union hall, and have taken care of it for a few hours every week.

"We saw that there was a great need here in our own local, so we set up a low-key system that allows people to choose their own food, instead of just being handed a bag of groceries," Tramel said. "Not having to pay for some food might allow members to buy gas or pay for insurance or other things."

Added McAdow: "This just takes a little sting out of being out of work. It's a way of showing fellow union members that you're thinking about them."

McAdow and Tramel use a freezer and shelving space in the basement of the union hall to store food items. Tramel and his wife, Pat, and daughter, Kristen, clip coupons, look for sale items and shop every week at Meijer and other stores to keep the pantry stocked.

Members who need the food are welcome to go to the pantry once a week and take up to 12 nonperishable items and three frozen items. Members who take food are only asked for a ticket number, not their name, so they can remain anonymous. The volunteers said no one has ever abused the system.

"We've had two years of bad unemployment" said Local 445 Business Manager Steve Claywell, "so we know the pantry has done some good. You've got to give a lot of credit to Chris and Rex; they donate a lot of their time each week to buy food and coordinate everything. We're proud of them."

Donations from members, contractors, other unions and the local labor-management committee have helped fund the pantry. Tramel said depending on the usage, anywhere from $30 to $125 will be spent each week on groceries. He keeps track of the types of food that has been taken, and they replenish accordingly with a variety of name-brand food items.

"People are really appreciative," McAdow said. "I know it bothers members to have to come and accept food. Imagine if one week you're earning $1,200 a week and then a few weeks later you're out of work and your income is down to $400 or less. People are proud, but I think they feel better about accepting help from us because these are fellow union members helping them."

Many of the union members who were fed by the pantry often re-pay fund when they go back to work, Tramel said. Thankfully, "shopping" at the pantry has dropped off this summer as members have found jobs. But the pantry fed up to 40 members and their families per month during the toughest times, and thanks to Chris and Rex, it's ready when needed in the future.

THE FOOD BANK at IBEW Local 445 is kept in good working order by retirees (r-l) Chris Tramel and Rex McAdow.