LOS ANGELES, Sept. 4 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Focused on the needs of local families and children during these difficult economic times, the members of SEIU ULTCW (United Long Term Care Workers' Union) kicked-off the Labor Day weekend by hosting the LA Fresh Start Working Families Community Festival – a free event that drew an estimated 6,000 people.  

The Festival provided children with back-to-school backpacks and school supplies, along with haircuts for boys and nail painting for girls.  In addition to preparing children for the school year, the event offered health screenings, a picnic-style lunch and plenty of family entertainment.  All free of charge.

"There are thousands of families who have never been more in need of getting a fresh start than there are today," said Laphonza Butler, President of SEIU ULTCW.  "And what better time than the Labor Day weekend to let them know that they're not alone and that we're here for them."

The idea for the Fresh Start Festival came in response to the struggles facing California families.  In Los Angeles County alone, 655,000 residents are without work – pushing the unemployment rate to 13.4 percent, over 2.7 million live without health insurance and therefore go without any form of preventative care, and the public school system struggles to fill a $640 million deficit thereby leaving children and classrooms without the supplies they need to be successful.

"Today was the perfect example of what being a part of a union is all about, " said Julie Chow, a ULTCW Vice President.  "It's about coming together to not only raise awareness of a need, but to be part of the solution."

In addition to providing free services and school supplies to local families and children, the LA Fresh Start Working Families Community Festival served as the first of several events SEIU ULTCW will be involved in over the next few months to raise awareness of the plight of working families and the need to work together in order to get our country and California back on track.  One such event, which will be formally introduced in the coming week, is the October 2nd One Nation Working Together rally near downtown Los Angeles in which thousands are expected to participate (for more information on the event and its upcoming press launch, visit www.OneNationCA.org).

For photos taken at today's festival, please visit www.SEIU-ULTCW.org.

SEIU ULTCW represents 180,000 long term caregivers (nursing home and homecare) throughout California.

SOURCE SEIU ULTCW

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http://www.SEIU-ULTCW.org