Electrical apprentices in Santa Barbara County say they have raised more than $8,500 for the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree.
The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Loal Union 413 started an internal fundraising challenge in October. Fifth-year apprentices say they raised $1,200 on their own in two nights before asking all IBEW members. In total, IBEW Local 413 raised $8,514. The money was then spent on toys to donate to the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree Program in Santa Maria.
The donation includes $435 from Journeymen and $2,500 from Imperial Electric President Mike Breyman. The Central Coast Chapter of Electrical Contractors Association matched the donations.
“There are kids out there in the community that don’t get to open presents on Christmas Day,” said fifth year IBEW apprentice Christopher Scott. “That was the biggest motivating factor of, ‘hey, we gotta do something about this.'”
