Public Employee Press

QWL team gets gifts for shelter kids

Members of the Quality of Work Life Committee at the Dept. of Consumer Affairs exemplified the true spirit of the season as they provided holiday gifts for the children living at the Dean Street Family Residence, a homeless shelter in Brooklyn.

Intake Supervisor Angela Campbell, a member of Clerical-Administrative Employees Local 1549 who works in DCA’s Complaint Division, has co-chaired the 10-person committee for the past three years.

“Each year, my co-workers surprise me with their generosity. Despite the financial crisis, they still gave with an open heart, and each child had a gift to open on Christmas morning.”

The committee includes members of DC 37 locals 371, 1549 and 1757 and the Organization of Staff Analysts. The holiday gift-giving is now in its second year. The committee receives a list with name, age, size, and sex of the shelter children. Campbell made a gift card for each child. “Each employee picked a card and bought whatever gift they could afford for the child,” she said.

At the Christmas party, held at the John Hus Moravian Church, Campbell helped distribute gifts to 69 children from one month old to 17.

“It was fun to connect the names to the children’s faces,” she said. “It gave us a great feeling to help children who are less fortunate. Knowing that we brightened a child’s face on Christmas morning is priceless. I want to thank all of the employees who participated in this event and helped to bring the holiday spirit into the lives of these children.”

According to the Dept. of Homeless Services, on Jan. 12, 8,124 families with children and a total of 35,242 individuals were living in city shelters.