A Late Start in Life & Not Wasting Any Time

Some might say Local 393 first year apprentice Cindy Ho is a wonder woman. In addition to holding down her full-time job and education, she is one of 393’s community service leaders while raising six kids on her own. But as Cindy puts it, “I got a late start in life, and now I need to catch up.”

Cindy used to have a substance abuse problem, and she credits her sobriety, the grace of God, and Local 393 for changing her life. “I used to be on drugs and was homeless,” said Cindy. “But I got into Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA),  and something finally clicked when I found my higher power. 

“Slowly but surely, I got my GED in my thirties and then was introduced to the trades as part of the Trades Orientation Program (TOP). Originally I was going to be a carpenter, but then the plumbers union opened up, and I grabbed the opportunity.

“I’m a pipefitter now, and I love it. I love working with the tools and always measure twice, cut once. When the pipes line up, and everything is in sync, it’s pretty. Without us, there’d be no clean water, so I feel like we are very important.

“Being in the union, there’s so much support. I want to do whatever I can to give back. I am committed to doing community service because I was able to change my life around because of all the support I got. And if there weren’t those volunteers, I wouldn’t have made it.

“One of my favorite volunteer activities is the food drive at Sacred Heart. I used to be one of those people who would get food there, and now I can turn around and give back. 

“Another memorable volunteer day was after the Gilroy mass shooting. A sister of one of 393’s apprentices and her husband were shot and injured. We cleaned up the yard, replumbed the house, and just helped in any way we could.

“I was at that Gilroy event with all of my kids and family, but we left an hour before the shooting. So I really felt for the victims as it could have been us. So it really touched me to help the victims.”

Coming Full Circle: Formerly Homeless Building Homes for the Homeless

Cindy knew she had really come full circle in life when she volunteered with Habitat for Humanity to build tiny homes for the homeless.

“As someone who was once homeless, I know the feeling of not having a safe place. I think that’s what we all want being born into life: to be safe and belong. There’s so many people who don’t have that. When I was building those little houses, I just kept thinking that someone is going to be warm, sheltered, and safe. And even if it is just temporary, it’s still a home.

“When you volunteer, you get more than you give. You get a sense of belonging, and it gives life meaning. You can just put in a few hours and know you’ve really helped someone. It feels good that I’m doing something nice and not selfish. 

“I went through life thinking only about myself and was stuck in my addiction. To be able to recover, be sober, and do all the things I do today is amazing. I can take care of my kids emotionally and financially. I pay my bills. Most people hate bills, but for me, I literally wait for them to come so I can pay them off right away. That’s a new thing.”

Cindy’s six kids range from age two to 17. Four of them live with her. They all work together as a family to take care of each other. Cindy always makes time to eat dinner together every night. In fact, eating is their favorite family activity. 

“We’ll be having dinner, and we spend half the time talking about what we’re going to eat the next day,” laughed Cindy. “Sunday is always family day, so I’ll either grill something or order special take out.”

At the end of the day, Cindy goes to bed early bone tired and filled with gratitude. “I am so blessed with a good job and family. Life is really good, and none of it would be possible without God.

“When I think about my kids’ future, there’s a family joke that I want all of them in the union: one can be a plumber, one an electrician, one a carpenter, and the youngest can be a cashier and hold all the money. The truth is, I just want them to be happy in whatever they do, but I know what the union can be for people.

“Being a part of Local 393 has helped me change my life: it’s given me a sense of purpose and made me feel good about myself – something I never had. I want to thank my union brothers and sisters for accepting me.”