December 18, 2007 PHOTOS: ILWU toy party Zoey Alvarez selects a Dora the Explorer toy at the ILWU's annual holiday toy party held at the Local 13 Memorial Hall. (Robert Casillas / Staff Photographer) Union gives back with toys Holiday toy party ends ILWU's 'season of giving' By Megan Bagdonas Daily Breeze staff writer     Hundreds of families lined up around the ILWU hiring hall in Wilmington on Monday for the labor union's annual toy giveaway.     About 1,200 children waited for their chance to choose from more than 2,000 shiny new toys purchased by the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 13.     "I've never seen so many destitute people. Before we just had a trickle of people, now we have them lined up around the building," longshoreman Paul Sanchez said. "The economy is not good. Even though the president and neo-conservatives say we're not in a recession, we are."     Children who came to the ILWU for some Christmas cheer not only are from low-income families, but also are homeless, disabled or have parents in prison.     "Right now I have not one thing under the tree. I feel so bad for my children," said Long Beach resident Darlene Jones, who has three children - two with Down syndrome. "This is truly a gift from God to get presents for all three of them."     Once the children reached the door, they were met by volunteers who helped them choose from helicopters, plush baby dolls, Fashion Fever Barbies, Dora the Explorers, race cars, board games and all the other toys that filled the aisles.     The children were also treated to cake and cookies and a photo with Santa Claus.     "Look at their faces, they are very happy. They get to pick out a toy and visit Santa, what more could you ask for?" said Carmen Himes, coordinator at Head Start, a national preschool program for economically disadvantaged children.     While the combination of children and piles of free toys could have led to a frenzy, the kids were well-behaved.     Fabian Bayardo, 11, of Carson slowly walked through the maze of toys, pulling on his lip as he examined the boxes of race cars, superheroes and dragons.     He finally settled for a crossbow that shot foam darts.     "It looked cool," Fabian said. "And I have a little brother I can shoot at."     For Monday's event, the ILWU spent about $20,000, including all the toys, 20 cakes, 900 cookies, 100 cupcakes and 12gallons of punch.     "It was very important for them to do this," said Teresa Camarena, who lives in San Pedro with her eight grandchildren. "I've stopped receiving some of the funding from child services so it's going to be very hard this year."     The grandmother waited more than an hour to get the gifts for her family.     "They're not to have any toys besides these," said Camarena, who began to cry as she watched her grandchildren eat cake.     Copyright 2007 Torrance Daily Breeze