Joint Council 42 Continues 31-Year Holiday Tradition

Joint Council 42 Continues 31-Year Holiday Tradition

December 22, 2007

Active and retired members of Joint Council 42 continued their 31-year tradition of handing out Christmas presents this year, giving away more than $8,000 worth of bicycles, trucks and dolls.

"We gave away anything any kid would ever want," said Manny Valenzuela, Western Region Coordinator for the Teamsters Organizing Department. "That included 89 bikes."

Joint Council President Jim Santangelo was one of the main organizers of the event this year, a tradition that began in 1976, when Teamster truck drivers routinely drove by Downey Playground in Los Angeles and saw a small group of community members handing out toys one Christmas season.

"The truck drivers decided to help out, and it just grew from there," Valenzuela said. "Now, retirees come back every year to help out."

Money to buy the gifts was contributed this year from numerous locals and Joint Councils, the IBT, and companies and vendors the Teamsters does business with, Valenzuela said.

The Teamsters also provided lunch for the nearly 200 children who attended the event. Former Los Angeles Dodgers player Jay Johnstone also took part in the event, autographing balls for children and handing out toys.

The tradition is an event Joint Council 42 members look forward to every year, Valenzuela said.

"We just enjoy helping the kids, showing what the Teamsters are all about," Valenzuela said.