My favorite event of the year was on Tuesday this week, when the San Diego Labor Council and United Way’s Labor Participation co-hosted the annual Food and Toy distribution here in San Diego. Dozens of our unions and community supporters came together to donate food and toys for unemployed and underemployed local families, we were able to help nearly three hundred local families this holiday season. Their commitment and generosity are truly an inspiration for our entire year of hard work.

Every December, the event goes on, rain or shine, and over the years we’ve put that to the test. This year we got both, but it didn’t slow down our volunteers. They were out there in the parking lot of Qualcomm Stadium as clouds turned to drizzle turned to steady rain, making sure that everyone received turkeys, food bags and toys and bikes to brighten the season. Click here for more photos from the event.

It’s wonderful to have this opportunity each year to partner with the United Way and give back to our fellow San Diegans, but it’s also an important reminder. The future of a strong San Diego that supports working families lies in supporting one another, working to strengthen the coalitions connecting labor and our broader community, and remaining in service throughout the year.

Our work to defend the safety net, grow the middle class, and build more jobs, better jobs, and better lives for everyone has never been more important. After a long year of setbacks and great successes, I can’t wait for an even better 2013. Happy Holidays!