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Public
Employee Press Holiday
joy at DC 37
By JOSEPH LOPEZ
Bright smiles and
festive spirits filled union headquarters at the annual Holiday Giving party Dec.
2. Over 200 families in need identified by social workers from DC 37s
Municipal Employees Legal Services and Personal Services Unit shared in
the Yuletide cheer.
Kids of all ages were treated to tasty food, colorful
balloon sculptures, and Polaroids with Santa Claus himself, who bore a striking
resemblance to Local 1320 President Jim Tucciarelli. The children also flocked
to Santas workshop, where elves from DC 37s Retirees Association helped
them choose among stuffed animals, board games, racing cars and Bratz dolls.
My
kids couldnt decide which toys to take, explained Local 420 member
Janet Senior, excited that her sons Eric, 6, and Ethan Jr., 4, will celebrate
Christmas for the first time this year. This is their first Christmas party
and first time seeing Santa, she said.
Local 1455
President Mike DeMarco, Local 2021 President Leonard Allen, and Tucciarelli handled
gift shopping for the event, with generous toy donations from locals 1070 and
957 and contributions from members, staff and locals 1549, 372 and 420, among
others. Families also received gift cards for toys and supermarket vouchers.
The
experience was especially important this year, with many feeling the pain of the
current financial crisis. In these hard economic times, it is great to know
our union can provide this aid to members, said Veronica Montgomery-Costa,
president of DC 37 and Local 372.
The Holiday Giving tradition is
one way the DC 37 family cares for its own, said DC 37 Executive Director
Lillian Roberts.
It is good to know we have people to back us up,
said Nereida Pastrana, a Local 372 member who was surprised to meet her friend
and neighbor Aracelis Figueroa at the party and learn that she too is a DC 37
member. We get to see that we are not the only ones going through this,
Pastrana added. | |