Local Building Trade Unions Donate Funds to Cover Three Months of Heat Costs for Meta House, a Local Nonprofit

On Tuesday, December 19, at 8:00am, representatives of The Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council (MBCTC) will present a check in the amount of $14,000 to Meta House to help cover heating costs for the months of January, February, and March 2024.

For the fourth year in a row, the Milwaukee Building Trades has mobilized their partners for an annual “Heat for the Holidays” campaign which has made this donation possible.

The Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades will once again be supporting Meta House’s mission to end the generational cycle of addiction by healing women and strengthening families. Meta House provides women and their families with a safe and secure place to start rebuilding their lives as they heal from substance use disorder and work to overcome poverty and the effects of trauma.

Meta House’s programming helps those in need build healthy lives so that they can take care of themselves and their families. This mission aligns exactly with the Union’s and improves the lives of people. Meta House provides evidence-based treatment that helps individuals prosper and grow to their fullest potential. The Union’s goals are to simply improve lives by empowering people with the skills that lead them to family-supporting careers in construction. Each of the Union Trades Locals is made up of a brotherhood and sisterhood of individuals who, together, help its members and their families prosper and grow to their fullest potential.

Dan Bukiewicz, President of the Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council (MBCTC), shares that the “MBCTC provides individuals with the opportunity to be trained cost-free for family-supporting careers in the construction trades, all while investing back into community organizations like the Meta House. I want to thank every union and organization that generously donated to Heat for the Holidays. You are all helping to change lives. This truly shows how the Union Building Trades are not only building careers but also communities.”

Milwaukee Area Labor Council President Pam Fendt stated “I am so proud of the generosity of the building and construction trades unions in the Milwaukee area. They share from their strength to assist others.”

Meta House is a local nonprofit that works to end the generation cycle of addiction by healing women and strengthening their families. The agency offers various levels of support including residential treatment, outpatient treatment, and a recovery housing community. Meta House serves over 300 women and 250 children every year.

“Meta House is deeply grateful for the incredible generosity of the Milwaukee Building and Construction Trades Council” said Valerie P. Vidal, President and CEO of Meta House. “For the fourth year in a row, their dedicated partnership ensures that local families have a warm and nurturing place to heal while they get back on their feet and establish a foundation for lifelong health and wellness.”

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County helped coordinate the donation between labor unions and Meta House, both long-standing United Way community partners.

Valerie Vidal and representatives from the Milwaukee Building Construction and Trades Council are available for interviews following the check presentation.

Originally chartered in 1910, The Milwaukee Building & Construction Trades Council, AFL-CIO (MBCTC), is dedicated to integrating into the community and focusing not only on “bread and butter” unionism, but encompassing a broad spectrum of economic and social objectives. Learn more at Milwbuildingtrades.org.

Meta House ends the generational cycle of addiction by healing women and strengthening families. Learn more at Metahouse.org.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.