For the past 13 years, Local 13’s Lisa Tonson has been coordinating the Thanksgiving turkey basket giveaway which benefits needy families throughout the Los Angeles area. This year the program was able to distribute 1,500 turkeys to families struggling in these tough times. The event was once again a success thanks to the generous donations from members of Local 13, 63, 94, the Southern California Pensioners group, and Federated Auxiliary Local 8. Local 26 security guards donated their labor and the Local 13 and 63 Memorial Associations donated labor and use of their facilities to the event.
The L.A. Police Department and Port Police also donated their time towards the event. The L.A. Police Department blocked off the street and a few LAPD and Port police officers staid throughout the day long event. Father Michael Perea from St. Peter’s & St. Paul Church in Wilmington blessed the baskets before they were distributed to the community.
Fifty baskets were also given to families from United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 250, which has thousands of members unemployed because of the recession.
Help for low income families
“The donations benefited 65 organizations who serve low income families,” Tonson said. Baskets were also given to the Local 13A (Allied Division) members who are fighting to get their jobs back at the Tesoro refinery in Wilmington, CA because the company hired a non-union contractor. Fifty baskets were also given to families from United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters, Local 250, which has thousands of members unemployed because of the recession.
Tonson is also coordinating the holiday toy giveaway which will take place on December 20th. Fifteen hundred kids from low-income families will get to pick out a toy for the holidays. Seventy-thousand dollars in contributions was raised for both events.
Bayer workers in Berkeley help laid-off co-workers
When Bayer laid off 29 workers at their pharmaceutical plant in Berkeley, CA it caused great hardships on those families, especially in this economy where jobs are so scarce. Employees from every department at the Bayer facility donated over $1,400 to help out their co-workers this holiday season.