December 12, 2017
Steel recycler donates hats, mittens for 18th year
In a tradition dating back to December 2000, Gerdau helped “warm up” the holidays and the cold winter months for 401 Lonsdale Elementary School students at its 18th Annual Mitten Tree held Dec. 4.
Through the event, Gerdau provides hats, mittens, holiday treats and a visit from Santa for each child at the school. The gathering is a highlight for both Gerdau employees and Lonsdale staff and students.
“The Mitten Tree is something our students look forward to and truly appreciate,” Lonsdale Principal Wendy Hansard said. “Gerdau brings in the perfect hats and mittens, and we enjoy seeing our kids wearing them as they walk to school each day and pull them back out again to enjoy the playground.
“It’s fun to see the children’s faces light up as they talk with Santa before selecting their mittens. We appreciate the men and women at Gerdau for bringing this celebration to our school year after year.”
Gerdau enjoys celebrating with the students who live in the community near the steel recycler.
“The Mitten Tree provides a meaningful way to celebrate the holidays by supporting and spending time with the students in our own backyard,” Gerdau Vice President and General Manager Johnny Miller said. “I particularly enjoy the kids’ smiles as they tell their wishes to Santa.”
Gerdau has a robust social responsibility program that focuses on providing community support in the locations where it operates.
Gerdau Knoxville Vice President and General Manager John Miller (center) is joined by, from left, Lonsdale Elementary School kindergarten students Magdalena Felipe-Francisco and Galindo Felix-Pedro after the children made their selections at the steel recycling company’s annual Mitten Tree event at the school Dec. 4. Gerdau has provided hats, mittens, holiday treats and a visit from Santa to the school’s students each year since 2000.
Gerdau Knoxville Vice President and General Manager John Miller (center) is joined by, from left, Lonsdale Elementary School kindergarten students Mare’Anna McCord and Ana Juan Pascual after the children made their selections at the steel recycling company’s annual Mitten Tree event at the school Dec. 4. Gerdau has provided hats, mittens, holiday treats and a visit from Santa to the school’s students each year since 2000.
Volunteers from Gerdau Knoxville provided winter hats, mittens, treats and a visit from Santa to all 401 students at Lonsdale Elementary School. The annual holiday tradition began in 2000. Volunteers included, left to right: Johnny Miller, Gwen Reichel, Ronald Fritz, David Moore, Don Clark, Jamie Gass, Daryl Harper, Jena Kreuzer and Brittney Parker.
About Gerdau
Gerdau is a leading producer of long steel in the Americas and one of the largest suppliers of special steel in the world. As North America’s fourth largest steel producer, Gerdau manufactures products for the construction, automotive, agricultural and energy markets. Each year, Gerdau recycles millions of tons of scrap metals into steel products, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable development in the regions where it operates. Gerdau is proud to stimulate the economy with a variety of well-paid manufacturing careers, employing 9,000 people across 110 communities in the U.S. and Canada. Learn more about Gerdau in North America by visiting https://www.gerdau.com/northamerica.
In 2016, Gerdau won the Knoxville Chamber Impact Award in recognition of its broad community support of its Lonsdale neighbors.
