Public service workers donated more than 75 toys boxes of toys, electronics and other gifts worth more than $25,000 to children in foster care in the county making it the most successful toy drive since it was founded 29 years ago.
About 100 children and their chaperones attended the annual event, hosted by members of SEIU Local 721, Dec. 21. Volunteers or “Toy Captains,” SEIU 721 members who work for the county and city of Los Angeles, collected the toys through a network of donation drop spots at their worksites.
Francisca Rodriguez, who serves as the Toy Captain for the County of Los Angeles Department of Public Works said that employees used “Black Friday” shopping list to shop after Thanksgiving and collected nearly 600 toys, making this year the most successful so far for the Department.
“Everyone was very generous this year even though we are in tough times,
” Rodriguez said.
“This week we brought in toys from our headquarters and our field offices and the truck was overflowing. Everyone was really motivated this year.”
The SEIU Toy Drive and Christmas party began in 1980 by Alexa Lucchese, an SEIU staff member, who grew up as a foster child in L.A. County.
SEIU Local represents more than 25,000 social services workers in the county, many of whom interact with children every day. A committee of union members runs the toy drive every year soliciting donations from union members, other individuals and companies including the law firms Gordon, Edelstein, Krepack, Grant, Felton & Goldstein and Lewis, Marenstein, Wicke, Sherwin & Lee; Phil Giarizzo Consulting; Assessor Rick Auerbach; and Vision Services.
SEIU 721 Toy Drive Captains collect gifts from workers in almost every county department. For more information about giving please contact Alexa Lucchese at (213) 368-8686.