Labor’s Community Service Agency (LCSA) and the Northwest Oregon Labor Council held their annual “Presents from Partners” holiday party for children of out-of-work union members Dec. 15 at the Sheet Metal Workers Local 16 union hall in Northeast Portland. A total of 345 boys, girls, tweens, teens, toddlers, and their parents participated — with kids receiving three toys each. In the photo above, Willy Myers of Local 16 stands in a roomful of toys dubbed “the overflow room.”
IBEW and United Workers Federal Credit Union sponsored a room with gifts for moms and dads. Children selected an item for each parent, and volunteers from the credit union — including CEO Barbara Mathey and VP Jeanine Lopez, pictured in the photo below left — helped wrap them.
Families also enjoyed a catered lunch, face painting, coloring, and a picture with Santa (played by Dave Williams of IBEW Local 48). Disposable cameras were even handed out to families that either forgot theirs, or don’t have one. Twenty-five Christmas trees (donated by Tim Foster of IBEW Local 48) also were free for the taking.
Union organizations, members, unionized businesses, and professionals that work with unions donated toys and cash for the event, said LCSA Executive Director Vickie Burns. A total of 70 volunteers helped in some fashion, either by decorating the union hall the night before or assisting families the day of the event. In the photo, center left, Becky Wright, Kathy Muir, and Belinda Reagan of Portland Federation of School Professionals Local 111 handle the check-in table.
