SEIU 1021 members and community partners kicked off our annual Toy and Coat Drive in Oakland last Friday, December 1st. The kickoff event featured members and staff singing holiday carols and included two school buses decorated as two oversized reindeer. The buses will be filled with donated toys and coats for kids in our community. 

Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao and Assemblymember Mia Bonta joined members and leaders of SEIU 2015, Hayward Unified School District, Oakland Firefighters IAFF Local 55, IFPTE Local 21, the YMCA Head Start, and Parent Voices of Oakland for the holiday toy and coat drive kickoff.

Mayor Thao said when she was growing up that she benefitted from toy drives like ours: ”I grew up with nine other siblings. My parents are refugees. My dad held five maintenance jobs. Somehow, they were always able to get us toys. And it was through toy drives like this.”

East Bay Assemblymember Mia Bonta reflected on growing up from humble beginnings, and that one year her parents couldn’t give her much for the holidays but gave her batteries to charge up her toys that winter, making her feel loved.

“When we are able to put toys and coats before families and children, they know they are loved. SEIU 1021 and SEIU 2015 are making sure our communities know they are loved,” said Assemblymember Bonta.

This is the fifth year SEIU 1021 is hosting a toy and coat drive for families in need, and the second year SEIU 1021 and Mayor Sheng Thao have partnered in our efforts. The Oakland Mayor’s office has also been holding its own successful toy drive for the past 44 years.

There are two ways to contribute this year. New toy and coat donations can be dropped off at the SEIU 1021 Oakland Union Hall, 100 Oak Street, from December 1st through 15th from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. There is also a registry at Macy’s for coats, which will have the coats delivered directly to the union office.

All the toys and coats collected between December 1st and  Dec. 15th  will be distributed on Tuesday, December 19, during the Giveaway Event from noon to 6 p.m. at 100 Oak Street in Oakland.

SEIU 1021 Vice President of Representation Sandra Lewis is looking forward to all the smiles at our gift Giveaway Event. Lewis said, “We love helping all the families that will be receiving those gifts. I can’t wait to see the smiles of the kids when they get these gifts.”