Labor Participation Thanks All Who Made the Annual Food and Toy Drive a Success

Bikes Lined Up for Distribution

By Tim Galloway
Director, Labor Participation

Thanks to the efforts of about 100 union volunteers, our annual Holiday Food and Toy Distribution was a huge success!

The volunteers worked tirelessly bagging and handing out the food and toys to nearly 400 families. 
Smiles from the children warmed our hearts as they left with wonderful toys donated by members from several different unions.

In the spirit of the holiday season, the following unions donated their time, money, bikes and toys.  On behalf of all the union members whose holiday was a little brighter, we wish to thank UNAC, IATSE, UFCW, Sign Painters, FORUM, IBEW, San Diego Building and Construction Trades Council, Elevator Constructors, NALC, Bakers Union, United Domestic Workers, UNITE/HERE, Iron Workers, Bus Drivers, CWA, GCIU, AFTRA, Carpenters, Sheet Metal Workers, APWU, AFGE, Operating Engineers, Cement Masons, IBEW Local 465 San Diego Transit Contrib Club-Maintenance, Teamsters, AFT, Roofers, IFPTE, Laborers, SEIU, AFSCME, Plumbers and Pipefitters, CSEA, SEIU 1000, UHCE/NUHHCE/AFSCME, SPNN UNAC, PASS, IAMAW, SEIU, Heat and Frost Insulators, Jamie and Lisa Tollefson, Toys Etc, the Johns, the staff of the United Way of San Diego County and the staff of the Labor Council.

Each year many of these unions ask their members to bring a toy to their annual holiday party, their December meetings or even ask their executive boards to donate money for us. It is because of your generosity that we are able to make the holiday’s a special time for these children.

We wish to express a special thank you to the OPEIU Local 30 staff, officers, executive board, stewards, friends and family members, Kaiser Primary Care La Mesa staff, physicians, X-ray, Ophthalmology and Dermatology, UNAC for their donation of toys, and Kaiser La Mesa Pharmacy Techs and Pharmacists for 14 wonderful bikes and to Cathy Young for organizing and arranging these wonderful donations from family, friends and coworkers. 

We wish to extend a special thank you to SEIU Local 1000 and their president, Yvonne Walker, who held the local’s annual statewide meeting in San Diego and donated 35 boxes of toys for our distribution, and to the Johns, who donated lots of wonderful bikes. 

We wish to thank Bimbo Bakeries USA for their donation of bread, buns, tortillas, bagels, English muffins and more for our families. 

Year after year, we can count on Bimbos for their generosity and support.  And thanks to Greg Clark who organized that huge donation!  Thanks to San Diego Bread Company and Dena Pacheco for their generous donation of delicious breads and rolls.  

A huge thank you to Deborah Lacey-Zuelsdorf for initiating the donations from Bimbos and San Diego Bread Company, and to Shannon Silva, Mark Edwards and Joe De la Cruz for arranging the delivery of the bread.  You always come through for us!

Our special thanks to our Teamsters Mike Witek, Alvin Mitchell, Gary Knight and Ed Mattas for transporting the food to Qualcomm Stadium, and to our forklift driver, Mark Mattas.

Year after year these unions, their staff and their members step up to the plate and go the extra mile to help make our distribution a success. 

No amount of words could express our appreciation to you all.  We couldn’t do it without you!