Postal Worker’s Christmas party for kids still going strong after 43 years
Traditional postal worker Christmas party continues for “one more year”
(December 5, 2014)This year, 2014,
marked the 43rd anniversary of the ‘Johnetta Borum Christmas Party’ for deserving kids. Johnetta Borum was a Milwaukee, Wisconsin postal worker who wanted to help kids that may not receive gifts at Christmas time. In 1971 she approached school social workers to help identify kindergarten through 5th graders that might not receive Christmas gifts. Johnetta took these children to lunch and presented them with a Christmas gift.
Although Johnetta passed away Oct 13 1972 of a heart attack at the age of 48– the tradition’s first year, it has been carried on by friends and co-workers. Now in its 43rd year, over 15,000 children have been a part of this “one more year” Johnetta Borum Christmas party. Postal Workers, policeman, and local businesses provided lunch and gifts to hand-picked children. Sponsors were asked to buy two lunch tickets, one for the child and one for themselves — and buy a $25 gift.