With the mission of serving others in celebration of Labor Day, union workers, politicians and volunteers gathered in Wilmington, south of Los Angeles, to donate thousands of boxes of food, diapers, backpacks and vaccines against the covid – 19.
For the second year in a row the “Labor of Love” event was held on Monday in front of Wilmington’s historic Banning Park and Museum. There, about 3, 552 were distributed to the neediest families near the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.
In line were waiting Marco Flores and his wife Blanca de Flores, who said they found out about the distribution of food and diapers by a friend. The couple said they live a short distance from Banning Park.
“It helps us a lot because there are five of us in the family,” said Blanca. “It’s very good and more if they are going to give us diapers because I have a one-year-old girl.”
Another beneficiary was Jaime Cervantes, who arrived accompanied by his brother to collect two boxes of food each.
Cervantes said that he found out that same Monday morning since every day he goes for a walk to the park and saw that they were preparing for an event.
“I asked them what it was and they told me what food, so I came here because that helps us all,” said Cervantes.
By 40 consecutive years a parade was held in the area to celebrate Labor Day. However, last year due to the issue of the covid pandemic – 19 the event had to be canceled. However, the organizers and participants did not want to let the holiday go by without helping.
Armando Olivas, director of Labor Community Services, an organization dedicated to helping low-income union members and organizer of the event, said that the objective was to feed families facing food insecurity and offer vaccines for those who wanted them.
“Someone asked me , ‘Why are these workers here? They could be resting at home, in their armchairs, ‘but I tell them that this event is part of the community and we are going to help them, ”said Olivas.
Politicians say present
Delivering boxes of food at the first table was the Senator of Los Angeles, María Elena Durazo, who said that in this day he had mixed feelings.
“I feel good because it is a need that they have and they come, but on the other hand I feel bad because there is still so much need and we have to see how to get these resources more quickly to the entire community, ”said Durazo.
The senator said that since the pandemic began, she has participated in many events like this all over the county. At the state level, he stresses, they invested more funds to provide food to the most needy.
“There are many who return to work, but others do not, for example, hotels are returning but with very little people because they are reducing the number of workers, ”said Durazo.
The district councilor 09, Kevin de León, recognized that what the working families is a heavy blow to humanity and it is their duty to help.
“We have experienced earthquakes, droughts, the catastrophic effects of climate change , economic declines, but we have never faced a global pandemic where many of our people have died, so more than ever, we have to support each other. We have to support each other, ”said de León.
De León said that this global pandemic has had the highest and most dangerous rate of covid infections – 19 and mortality causing serious effects on families. That is why it is not unusual to see families lining up “for two or four blocks” to receive a box of food and feed the family.
Joe Buscaino, District Councilor 14 which includes Wilmington, said he was very happy to see the event with great success in food distribution.
“This is amazing to me, this is the center of the movement working here in the shadows of the Port of Los Angeles, ”said Buscaino. “I am happy to see all my colleagues at all levels of government coming to support the union movement, and those who have not stopped working since the first day of this pandemic.”
Buscaino explained that precisely on this Labor Day people should stop and reflect for a minute, recognize all workers, especially those on the front line.
“Let us never forget our nurses, the workers of the supermarkets, city workers who make sure trash is picked up every day. Even our military personnel who have not been arrested, “said the councilor.
” And for those companies that want to take advantage of the workers, the message for them is that this is a city that will respect and honor workers’ rights. ”