Public Employee Press

Santa Delivers for union kids

By JOSEPH LOPEZ

Though the weather outside was frightful, the love and caring of the season warmed the annual DC 37 Holiday Giving program Dec. 8. Over 200 families hit hardest by rough economic times were invited by DC 37's Personal Services Unit and Municipal Employees Legal Services to share a hot meal and take a photo with a very special guest direct from the North Pole - Santa Claus.

Santa's helpers from the DC 37 Retirees Association led children through tables covered with board games, basketballs, dolls, and other toys so that each could choose the exact gift they wanted. "I begged my mom so much for it all year," exclaimed Lindsay Hilliman, 6, as she proudly displayed her new Monster High doll.

"Sometimes you cannot afford to give your child gifts, and I appreciate DC 37 giving my daughter something she loves," said Local 372 School Aide Beatriz Taylor, Lindsay's mother.

After sitting on the lap of jolly Saint Nick - who has never been seen in the same room at the same time as Local 1320 President Jim Tucciarelli - the kids were able to make arts and crafts and take home their favorite balloon animals from a balloon sculptor.

"The holidays are a time for family and DC 37 is a family," said Executive Director Henry Garrido. "I am glad to see our family come together, and we will continue to work hard to improve the lives of our union brothers and sisters." Garrido was joined at the event by outgoing Executive Director Lillian Roberts.

Local 371 Community Associate Sheila Jenkins was ecstatic about having the chance to bid Roberts farewell. "May God bless her in whatever she does from here, because she did a great job for the union," Jenkins said.

This year's program would not have been possible without thoughtful toy donations from Locals 420, 924, 957, 1070, 1320, 1455, 1482, 1507 and 1549, and from Tom Custance of Local 1320 and DC 37 staffers Amy Kadlub and Willie Chang. Monetary donations were also made by Locals 299, 372, 1113, 1505, 1597, 1655, 1930 and 2627 and numerous other staffers and the DC 37 Retirees Association.