Since the holiday season kicked off, the New York City & Vicinity District Council of Carpenters (NYCDCC), and the Carpenter Contractor Alliance of Metropolitan New York (CCA Metro) has delivered over 300 toys to kids and 500 turkeys to families throughout the Bronx. The carpenters and contractors participated in three toy drives and one turkey drive across the borough in addition to events organized in other parts of the city.

The holiday toy drives in the Bronx were carried out in partnership with local non-profit community organizations and agencies, Eastchester Heights Community Center and NYCHA, and local elected officials, including State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey, Assembly Members Nathalia Fernández and Karines Reyes, and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie.

NYCDCC is a representative body comprised of nine individual Locals and 22,000 union members. The district council functions as the voice for thousands of city’s skilled carpenters, millwrights, dock builders, marine divers, core drillers, timber men, concrete carpenters, cabinetmakers, floor coverers and industrial workers.

The toy drives come after the groups also teamed up last month to deliver turkeys, food and other goods to families in need for Thanksgiving. Joseph Geiger is the executive secretary-treasurer of NYCDCC and a Board member of CCA Metro. “Union carpenters and contractors have seen first-hand how hard this year has been on the people of New York City,” said Geiger.

“That’s why we felt it was so important this year especially to be out there giving back to our local communities this holiday season. We have the best members, and they’re happy to be out in the Bronx, working with our partners to help make the holidays a bit brighter for folks.”