Answering The Call For Help

But beyond food distributions in Southern California, LCS was called into action in other emergency relief efforts that required prompt action and flawless execution to ensure that those who needed our help could receive it quickly and in a timely manner.

On February 23, LCS, in collaboration with The LA Fed, the Red Cross Los Angeles Chapter and Teamsters Joint Council 42, jumped into action to help families in Texas who were battling a devastating Winter storm. This relief effort sent 800 cases of water and over 600 36-lb boxes of food that assisted hundreds of families who were in desperate need of help. This effort was a carefully planned and coordinated with multiple partners dealing with some of the most intense Winter storms in our country. From coordinating resources from our warehouse with the Red Cross to transporting the relief aid and coordinating the distribution of the food and water onsite, Labor Community Services was there.

Relief efforts are not only during times of natural disasters, but also during labor strikes. At its core, Labor Community Services came from a need to have resources. In May 2021, workers at Stratas Foods in Fresno, California were locked out of their jobs after the company had failed to negotiate a new labor agreement with its workers. The lockout left many families out on the street with immediate help for relief. That is when Labor Community Services packed up the truck to transport food relief to the families on strike.

Several trips have taken place since then, knowing that we had a responsibility to help our brothers and sisters who were fighting for what they rightfully deserved.

During the COVID-19 Pandemic, one of the most vulnerable sector of workers have been our farmworkers. Day in and day out, they are out in the fields (often with minimal to no PPE provided from their employers) creating unnecessary health hazards for our farmworkers and our country’s food supply. So when LCS found out that Red Cross staff were in need of help in transporting PPE masks and resources to the Dolores Huerta Foundation, LCS stepped into action to facilitate the delivery of the PPE items to the Central Valley. We knew the urgency in the request for help and were honored to help facilitate the delivery of these much-needed resources.

During the Holidays when many of us found ourselves celebrating the time with our families and loved ones, over 100 workers at Jon Donaire Desserts found themselves out on the picket line as the company had failed to negotiate in good faith a new labor agreement. With the current contract expiring in July, workers began their labor strike on Nov 3rd. Through the strike, support and momentum has been building up in support of the members from Bakers Local 37 Workers, from local, county and state oficials to members from other labor unions. LCS and The LA Fed as been making weekly visit to the striking workers, bringing them food and toys for the holidays along with gift cards and turkeys. LCS is committed, along The LA Fed, to support the workers until they reach a contract agreement with their employer.