It was by far one of the biggest ice bucket challenges to raise funds for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).

Some 30 garbage truck drivers and other staffers of the Solid Waste Division of the City of Manteca crowded together in front of a large fork lift that held a 100 gallon water container above their heads dropping its load like a large water balloon – all directed by their boss Rexie LeStrange at the beginning of their lunch hour.

It took place in the city’s corporation yard on Wetmore Avenue at South Main Street.

The water was part of the hundreds of gallons they would have been used to wash their white garbage trucks earlier in the day.

The event was concocted by city human resource director Joe Kriskovich who managed to stay dry despite the downpour.  It was LeStrange who vocalized the countdown to the water drop after issuing an open competition to other city departments in an effort to better support the ALS fundraiser.

“We challenge every division in the City of Manteca and every employee in the City of Manteca,” she said.  

She extended her department’s challenge to Administration, Engineering, Building Maintenance, Vehicle Maintenance, Streets, Parks and Recreation, Parks, Golf, Finance, Waste Water, Water, Community Development, Economic Development, Human Resources/Administrative Services, IT, City Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, Manteca Transit Center, Senior Center, Animal Control and to the City Council.