SEIU 721 member Brenda Tomaszewski's oldest son Justin is a resident of Glenridge Center, a long-term care facility.  Last year, Brenda contacted the administrator and asked him to recommend a few residents that she and her co-workers could buy Christmas gifts for that might not be receiving any. The administrator told her that would be difficult because out of the 113 residents more than 80 of them don't have families, visitors, or receive any Christmas packages.  

With that information, Brenda, her family, friends and co-workers gathered donations and gave the money to the Glenridge Parent Group to purchase a gift for each resident to receive at the annual holiday party.

"The holidays can be a lonely time.  To see the pure joy and happiness a single Christmas gift brings to the Glenridge residents is priceless. It feels good to know we did something simple but significant that brought happiness to people who have no one else to share the holiday with" said Brenda Tomaszewski, Child Support Specialist IV, Ventura County. 

This year Brenda held another fundraiser and was able to increase the donation with the help of  her co-worker Shannon Abramovitch.  Shannon reached out to SEIU 721 and received an additional $500 to help purchase gifts and T-shirts with the center's name on it for each resident.  The residents and family members had a wonderful party to celebrate the end of 2009.