NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS |
January 1, 2021 | PAGE 9
Iron Workers Local 29 goes contactless with ‘Night on Santa Lane’
Iron Workers Local 29 turned its
Northeast Portland union head-
quarters parking lot into a winter
wonderland Dec. 19. “Night on
Santa Lane” took the place of
“Breakfast With Santa,” a party
the union, credit union, and
training center have put on for
members and their kids and
grandkids for 34 years.
Because of the coronavirus
restrictions ordered by the gov-
ernor, the breakfast party had to
be canceled this year. Teri Robi-
son, CEO of the Iron Workers
National Credit Union, envi-
sioned something else: a winter
wonderland, complete with
snow blowing machine, hot
chocolate station, live reindeer,
lights, blow up dolls, and, of
course, Santa Claus.
All told, the event attracted
500 members, kids and grand-
kids (220 children), and 110
cars. The union also welcomed
several passersby who saw the
lights and wanted to see more.
“It was such a magical night!
The joy and excitement of our
members, they really didn’t
know what they were coming
to! They thought they were
coming to the hall to pick up a
gift! Then BAM! They pulled
into the parking lot and realized
this is going to be something
more. It was just spectacular to
hear from them one-on-one,”
Robinson said.
“For a year that looked like
there was no hope, you brought
our kids something fun and to
have them forget about this
year,” said Local 29 member
Jeremiah Stone. “My kids ab-
solutely loved it! It wasn’t the
same as breakfast, but it was a
magical night for the kids with
all of the stipulations.”