ILWU members along the Coast banded together to make possible a happy holiday season for thousands of families that are still struggling in an economy that has failed to fully recover from the recent recession. Members, pensioners and auxiliary clubs partnered with local charity groups to donate toys, money and time to their communities in the ILWU spirit of solidarity and helping those in need. Because of the generosity of ILWU members, thousands of families who have been struggling to make ends meet were able to have a happier Christmas.
Southern California Children’s Christmas Party
Now in its 15th year, the 2012 Southern California ILWU Children’s Christmas Party helped approximately 3,000 kids have a happy holiday season according to Lisa Tonson, lead person for the Holiday Events Committee. Over 100 volunteers helped to make this year’s event possible. The committee reached out to over 35 local non-profits to identify families in the area who may be in need of some assistance.
Preparation for the children’s party began in the early morning of December 17 with volunteers that included ILWU members, children and teens, who set out rows of toys and sports equipment. By 9am the hall was filled with Christmas music and children and their families began filing into the ILWU Memorial Hall. Children were allowed to pick a toy of their choice and were treated to cookies, punch, face painting and a visit from Santa.
Locals 13, 26, 63, 94, the Federated Auxiliary 8, Southern California Pensioners, Longshoremen Memorial Association and the Local 63 Memorial Association all made this year’s holiday party possible. The Holiday Events Committee works year round to plan and organize the holiday charity events.
Bay Area toy drive
Local 10’s Christmas Party helped a multitude of families and hundreds of children celebrate the holidays on Saturday afternoon, December 8. There were generous servings of food, sweet treats, a magician, face-painters and balloon artists. Santa Claus was the most popular attraction, with children lined up for hours on end to tell him their Christmas wishes. A large team of volunteers made the event possible, coordinated by Frank Cresci, Henry Pellom, Chris Christensen and Beth Susim who worked with ID Casuals Ada Chilton, Carlos Villanueva and Keith Washington plus Pensioner Ralph Rooker and Gloria English from Local 34. Photographs of the children’s party were captured by Local 10 member Kelley Kane.
Toys for Tots donations were gathered at Local 10’s hall during the month of December. The huge pile of gifts kept growing until union Fire Fighters picked them up on December 19. The success of the event was made possible by the many contributions from the members of Local 10, 34, 75, 91 and Bay Area Pensioners.
For the second year in a row, Local 34 members decided to organize a holiday bike drive to give back to their community. They partnered with the “Cycles of Change” organization in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood which sponsors after-school bike clubs, a “Safe Routes to Schools” program that teaches children about safety, and a bike shop that trains young bike mechanics and allows volunteers to “earn-a-bike” by helping in the shop. Although they fell a little short of meeting last year’s total, Local 34 members are hoping to surpass it in 2013.
Local 19’s Christmas for Kids
Thanks to the generous contributions from Local 19 members, the 2012 Christmas for Kids committee raised a total $16,754 that was used to benefit several local community charities. This year, $7,204 was donated to Teen Feed, a program that helps street kids. Donations included backpacks filled with toiletries, sleeping bags, money for bus passes and turkeys for their annual Christmas dinner party.
In addition, $2,011 was donated to the Harborview Hospital burn unit and once again Santa (played by Local 19 member Robert MacDonald) went to the hospital and gave gifts to the kids in the burn unit.
And $5,000 was donated to TreeHouse, an organization that helps foster kids. Steve Wintermute and
Carol Brogdon went to the KIRO radio telethon for Tree House and challenged others to donate and match the $5,000 donation. Because of this challenge an additional $2,500 was raised by those who called in and donated to the telethon. A portion of the contribution went to buy gifts for kids whose parents are in a recovery program.
In addition to the charity organizations, the Christmas for Kids committee received a last minute request to help a family of 8 whose power had been shut off for a year. After meeting the family, the committee decided to get their power turned back on, and also gave them a $300 gift card for food.
Each child was given a new winter coat and a gift. Local 19 Member Russ Shepherd also bought the family $200 in food and blankets, and members Joey Domingues and Collin Bustanoby also donated food to the family.
The Local 19 Christmas for Kids committee members and volunteers included: Carol Brogdon (Chair),
Jeannine Lofton, Allison Steichen, Russ Shepherd, Steve Wintermute, Rex and Kevin Wilkins his and son, Robert MacDonald, Tamara Sanmiguel, JackBlock Jr., Allison Steichen, Joey Domingues and Collin Bustanoby and Liz Fairbanks took Santa photos.