CHRISTMAS DINNER-IN-THE-PARK For over 30 years, Union Station Homeless Services has sponsored annual Dinners-in-the-Park on Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day. Held in Pasadena's Central Park, these events bring together thousands of volunteers to serve a hearty meal and holiday cheer to our less fortunate community members. Last year we served 8,500 meals on Thanksgiving and Christmas to people who were homeless, senior citizens, alone at the holidays, or unable to afford a holiday meal. Help make this holiday season special by volunteering or donating food or toys for Christmas Day. For more information, please call 626.240.4550 x542. HOW TO GET INVOLVED Volunteer at the Event (Christmas Day) 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Set up at the park or help prepare food at the Adult Center. 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Greet guests and serve food & beverages at the park or assist in food transportation and initial clean-up at our Adult Center. 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Break down tables & chairs, and clean up at the park (we REALLY need help here!) or help us wash dishes and clean-up at our Adult Center. Registration Registration is now closed. If you or your family still wish to volunteer, please come to Central Park or our Adult Center (412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena) between 1 PM and 4 PM to help with clean up. Volunteer the Day Before or Day After (Dec. 24th and Dec. 26th) If you are available to volunteer the day before or day after either event, please contact Union Station at 626.240.4550 x125 for more information. Donate New Toys for Christmas Santa Claus gives away toys to about 1,200 children at Union Station’s Christmas Dinner-in-the-Park. If you can donate a large quantity of new toys, please email us at inkinddonations@unionstationhs.org, otherwise follow the instructions below. All toys should be new and unwrapped. Toys can be dropped off at our Adult Center (412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena) from 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Friday beginning Monday, December 14th. Toys must be dropped off by noon on December 23rd. Donate Prepared Food Please click here to view the full list of food items needed. Fully Cooked Hams Side Dishes - Side dishes must be safely prepared in disposable aluminum containers. We are in need of mashed potatoes without gravy, gravy, scalloped potatoes, corn, peas, green beans and salad. Desserts (please, no jello) If you plan to make side dishes or desserts that will serve more than twenty people, please see our current needs list. Side dishes and desserts can be dropped off at Central Park on the corner of Fair Oaks Avenue and Del Mar Boulevard, from 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM on Christmas morning. Please drop off all meats at our Adult Center kitchen (412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena). THANKSGIVING DINNER-IN-THE-PARK ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Union Station Homeless Services is deeply grateful to the following sponsors for helping make our 2009 Thanksgiving Dinner-in-the-Park a great success. The City of Pasadena Classic Party Rentals Faith Lutheran Church Fullen-Smith Foundation KHHT / HOT 92.3 Pasadena City College Ready Pac Produce Sempra Energy Foundation Southern California Edison Unified Western Grocers FOOD DRIVES & DONATIONS Union Station thanks all of the individuals and organizations that donated food for Dinner-in-the-Park. We would like to acknowledge the following donors who organized food drives and donated thousands of pounds of food for the event. AT&T Big Easy Productions Cisco Systems & Rhonda Henley Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market Eagle Rock The Fork In The Road Gang (Phil Coombes/Ken Marshall/Bob Stane) HER Energy Drink & Brett Jacobson Kappa Sigma Phi Liquid Entertainment LLC LoopNet, Inc. Make Me a Star Studios McKenna Motors The Omar Miller Foundation Wutlife Productions: Los Angeles RAFFLE DONORS 99 Cent Only Stores Arthur Murray Dance Studios Buca di Beppo California Pizza Kitchen Edible Arrangements Pasadena Ralph & Margo Kudishim Lula Mae, Gifts of Wit & Whimsy Pasadena Ice Skating Center Maria's Italian Kitchen Mignon Chocolate Run With Us Photos by Michael Sampiano and Tim Ronca