Oakland Firefighters and Pacific Workers Team Up to Bring Toys and Hope to Local Kids

A holiday push: Employers and firefighters pool resources for local children

Pacific Workers helped raise more than $25,000 for Oakland Alameda County Firefighters’ Local 55’s holiday toy drive this season, organizers said. The effort ran across November and December and brought together Pacific Workers employees, firefighters and local residents to buy toys, warm clothing and gift cards for families in need around Oakland. The money went toward new gifts, storage at fire stations, and safe, organized distribution so parents could pick up items without long waits.

Organizers described the campaign as both a practical relief effort and a way to strengthen ties between a major local employer and first responders. Pacific Workers and Local 55 framed the drive as a community response to rising needs among lower-income households and families hit by sudden expenses this year.

How the money was collected and organized for distribution

The funds came from a mix of employee donations, company matching, and local fundraising events hosted by both Pacific Workers and Local 55. Staff volunteers ran a series of small events — bake sales, donation drives at workplaces, and a weekend open house at a fire station — while union members organized themed collection days at several neighborhood locations.

Pacific Workers added a company match for employee gifts, which helped push the total past the $25,000 mark. Local businesses and private donors also contributed, offering gift cards and new toys to supplement cash raised. A modest raffle and a silent auction held at a community holiday fair brought in extra funds and drew wider attention to the drive.

Logistics were handled jointly. Pacific Workers provided storage space and trucks for moving donations. Local 55 volunteers staffed distribution centers at select fire stations and created timed pickup slots to keep lines short. The organizers emphasized safe handling: donated toys were inspected and sorted by age group, and gift cards were wrapped with basic information about intended recipients to ensure fair distribution.

Who benefits and what recipients are saying

The drive targets children and families across Oakland who struggle with the cost of the season. Organizers estimate the funds will help hundreds of children, focusing on households referred through school counselors, shelters and community centers. Fire stations serving hard-hit neighborhoods acted as distribution hubs so families could pick up items close to home.

“Seeing a child light up when they get a new toy is why we do this,” said a Local 55 captain who helped coordinate station pickups. “It’s about relief, but also about showing our community we’re here.” A Pacific Workers volunteer added: “Our team wanted to make a practical difference. Donating a toy or a warm coat is something everyone can take part in.”

One parent who collected gifts described the event as a small but meaningful lift. “This helped me cover things I couldn’t afford this month,” they said. “My kids will have presents and that takes a big weight off my shoulders.”

About the groups behind the drive

Pacific Workers is a local employer with an active community outreach program that focuses on immediate needs like housing support and holiday assistance. Oakland Alameda County Firefighters Local 55 is the union for city and county firefighters; beyond emergency response, Local 55 runs long-standing outreach programs including blood drives, safety education and seasonal charity efforts. Their partnership brought resources and local reach to the toy drive.

Ongoing efforts and ways to get involved

The organizers said the toy drive is the latest in a series of seasonal efforts and that both groups plan follow-up events in the winter and spring. Readers who want to help can drop off new, unwrapped toys at designated fire stations during posted hours or contact Pacific Workers’ community outreach office to ask about volunteer shifts and future drives. Donations of gift cards are also useful because they let families choose what they need most.

Volunteers and donors are encouraged to check Local 55’s public schedule for station open-house days and to watch for announcements about spring programs that will use the same volunteer channels developed during this drive.

Sources

• prnewswire.com