The Generosity of “Cookie Bob”

At nearly 90 years young, Local 19 retiree “Cookie Bob” Vavrek has no intention of slowing down. As Vice President of the Local 19 Retirees Club, “Cookie Bob” stays very active. Bob joined Local 19 in 1981 when he went to work at Hough Bakery and later retired from New York Frozen Foods. For many years, Bob played on the Local 19 Saturday morning softball league and currently he volunteers during the Local 19 Cleveland Blood Bank.

For more than 10 years, Bob has volunteered at the Oaks of Brecksville Nursing Home. Bob’s wife was a patient at the facility for seven months before she passed away. Inspired by the excellent care she received from the nurses and staff during her stay, Bob decided to volunteer at the nursing home. Bob calls bingo, helps the kitchen aids, assists the nurses in keeping the patient’s rooms stocked with water and necessities and clears the trash.

In addition to his many volunteer duties at the nursing home, Bob is renowned for his homemade cookies. He earned the title of “Cookie Bob” because of his love for baking cookies for the nurses, staff and patients. In fact, “Cookie Bob” proudly knows everyone’s favorite cookie and rotates which recipes he bakes for each visit.

In 2018, Bob’s neighbors nominated him for Brecksville, Ohio’s “Citizen of the Year” and he was presented with the “Everyday Champion Award” by the Mayor of Brecksville. Of all his many talents, Bob says he simply loves to make people happy.

BCTGM Generosity

A toy drive led by members of Local 84 (Columbus, Ga.) and Hostess Brands brought holiday joy to children in Columbus, Georgia. Southern Region Vice Pres. Zack Townsend and International Representative Darrell Copeland worked closely with Allen Elementary School in Columbus to identify students who needed the most support during the holiday season. Each student was asked to write a letter to Santa asking for what they wanted most. Some of the letters requested toys, shoes, and clothing, while others requested bed sheets, comforters, pillows, and even body care items. Townsend and Copeland read through all of the letters and purchased gifts for the kids at department stores, grocery stores, big box stores and online websites. “We wanted to be sure the children would smile on Christmas morning,” recalled Copeland.

Service with a Smile

Karen Parsons is a proud member of Local 406 (Halifax, Nova Scotia) who works in food and beverage at the Homewood Suites in Halifax. According to Local 406 Business Agent George Leaman, Parsons can always be found with a smile and a kind word, enjoying her job.

AFL-CIO Solidarity

Local 358 (Richmond, Va.) President Keith Bragg, Sr. (left) and Fin. Secy./Bus. Agt. Darlene Carpenter (right) greeted AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler (center) at the Virginia State AFL-CIO’s 42nd Constitutional Convention in Williamsburg, Virginia.

BCTGM HQ Visit

Local 118 (Washington, D.C.) Pres./Bus. Mgr. Les Jones, Fin. Secy.-Treas. Jose Villalta and Vice Pres. Jeff Kinsley accompanied shop stewards from Giant, Safeway and Vie de France bakeries to tour BCTGM Intl. headquarters. The stewards met Intl. Pres. Anthony Shelton (pictured far right), Intl. Secy.-Treas. David Woods (pictured far left), Asst. to the Pres. Harry Kaiser and Dir. of Fin.& Admin. Kurt Yeager.