Dec. 27, 2021: This year has been challenging for everyone. When SEIU 1021 members see community members having tough times, they know it’s time to roll up their sleeves and get to work, and that’s just what they did in 2021’s community toy drive.

Members collected toys and partnered with local community organizations like Oakland Alliance of Californians for Community Empowerment (ACCE), Parent Voices of Oakland, Faith in Action East Bay, YMCA Family Advocate, Head Start Berkeley, Oakland Rising, and La Clinica, to connect with Oaklanders in need and invite them to the giveaway, which took place on Tuesday, December 21.

Yeon Park, our Vice President for the East Bay, said, ”Opening our hall to share with our community for this toy giveaway is our way of acknowledging the hardship of these terrible pandemic years. In difficult times, we all need to stick together and do what we can for one another. As working people, our members don’t just serve their communities; they are parts of their communities. We are proud we can share our union hall, our food, and our holiday spirit, not just these toys.”

Sandra Lewis, our Vice President of Representation, handed out toys for hours. She said, “It was wonderful to see the smiles our members brought to these families. It really reminded me our members will step up to give back to our communities. As families thanked us for putting this event on, it brought a sense of gladness–but also lets me know we need as a society to do more.”