**MEDIA ADVISORY FOR TUES. 12/19**

Contact: Jennie Smith-Camejo, jennie.smith-camejo@seiu1021.org, (510) 710-0201

Spirits are high at the SEIU 1021 union hall – a.k.a. “Santa’s Workshop” – as volunteers and staff sort and organize thousands of new coats, toys, and other gifts donated by union members, labor partners, community members, and community organizations for the big giveaway happening Tuesday. Even with rain predicted, the coalition is working overtime to make sure local kids stay warm and enjoy bright holidays, no matter their families’ financial circumstances.

What: SEIU 1021 and Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao’s Toy and Coat Drive Giveaway
When: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 12-6 p.m., rain or shine
Where: SEIU 1021 union hall, 100 Oak St., Oakland, CA 94607
Who: Oakland families in need will receive gifts and enjoy hot chocolate, food, and holiday cheer provided by elves and Santa himself
Visuals: Santa and elves; fire truck; toy and coat giveaway

“Rain or shine, we will be out here on Tuesday to give out the coats and toys our community has generously donated,” said SEIU 1021 East Bay Vice President Yeon Park. “There is a lot of need in our community. Every kid deserves to be able to stay warm and to get something special at the holidays. We’re thrilled at the response we’ve received to our requests for donations and can’t wait to see the kids smile.”

This is the fifth year SEIU Local 1021, Northern California’s largest public employee union, will host a toy and coat drive for families in need, and the second year SEIU 1021 and Mayor Sheng Thao have partnered in their efforts. The mayor’s office has also been holding its own successful toy drive for the past 44 years.

Over the past four years, the annual SEIU 1021 toy drive has distributed over 10,000 toys to families. But during these challenging times, we doubled our efforts to fill two buses donated by Hayward Unified School District to spread even more holiday cheer to children in underserved communities.

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SEIU Local 1021 represents nearly 60,000 employees in local governments, non-profit agencies, health care programs, and schools throughout Northern California, including seven private colleges and numerous community colleges. SEIU Local 1021 is a diverse, member-driven organization with members who work to make our cities, schools, colleges, counties, and special districts safe and healthy places to live and raise our families.