Traveling contractors give to local charity ahead of Christmas

PHOTO: Lt. Russell Ursery, left, accepts a $5,758 donation from Thompson Construction Group crane operator Pete Sweet at Veolia North America’s Gum Springs facility. | arkadelphian.com photo/Joel Phelps

GUM SPRINGS, Arkansas — Although he’s a thousand miles from home, crane operator Pete Sweet and a couple hundred of his colleagues stationed at Veolia’s ongoing plant expansion pitched in to give to a worthy, local cause.

During a recent team meeting about 250 employees of the South Carolina-based Thompson Construction Group pooled together, reaching into their wallets to give money. With matching funds from the corporation, the guys were able to raise a love offering of $5,758 to donate to a local organization.

Sweet, who hails from Nebraska but is currently living at Caddo Valley RV Park until the Veolia incinerator project is finished, made a local connection during one of his routine stops at Stuckey’s in Arkadelphia. It was there he met Lt. Russell Ursery, a Clark County Sheriff’s Office investigator who frequents the convenience store to sip coffee and talk shop.

With the donations pledged to a local cause, Ursery offered the idea that Junior Auxiliary of Arkadelphia would make a fine recipient, especially given the timing of the donation with Angel Tree, the organization’s annual Christmastime project.

Thompson Construction made its donation to the local JA chapter via the CCSO. The funds will be used to help local children in need.

Sweet said donating to the local cause is all about giving back to the communities they temporarily call home — each year, regardless of where traveling contractors are working, they find a way to donate.

Thompson Construction Group has been in charge of the Veolia plant expansion’s ironworks since its arrival nearly a year ago.

“This is a community we’re working in. It’s a community we’re affecting, and one that is accepting us,” said Sweet, 58. “While we’re here we find the needs of the surrounding communities, and we give.”