Union Station Homeless Services volunteer Leslie Levy serves salad during their annual Thanksgiving dinner in Pasadena Central Park Nov. 24, 2016. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)
Author: Jason Henry
Source: Pasadena Star News
Trader Joe’s stores in the San Gabriel and San Fernando valleys donated more than 200 turkeys to Union Station Homeless Services’ annual Thanksgiving dinner for the homeless.
The donation will cover the majority of the turkeys needed for the Dinner in the Park event, but other items are still needed, according to Union Station.
“Trader Joe’s has been a cornerstone here in Pasadena and we could not be more thrilled to have their support this Thanksgiving to effect real change in our local communities,” Stephanie Harris, Union Station’s director of special programs, said in a statement.
Dinner in the Park has been a tradition in Pasadena for more than 45 years. Volunteers help prepare and serve meal at Pasadena’s Central Park on Thanksgiving. The event helps homeless families and individuals, but it is also open to low-income families, senior citizens and anyone who is alone on Thanksgiving or unable to afford a holiday meal.
Union Station anticipates a larger turnout this year after seeing a 23 percent increase in Los Angeles County since 2016. They expect to serve more than 2,000 plates of food at the holiday event.
The dinner has already filled its volunteer pool, but it is still accepting monetary donations, pies and other food items. A wish list posted on the Union Station website asks for canned beans, cranberry sauce and corn, as well as instant mashed potatoes, gravy mix and boxed stuffing.
Anyone who wants to donate can drop off items purchased from the supermarket at the Adult Center, 412 S. Raymond Ave. in Pasadena, until Saturday. You can also buy items directly from Union Station’s Amazon wishlist at a.co/9otE0Nu and they will be automatically shipped to the appropriate location.