PASADENA THANKSGIVING

Families from all over the San Gabriel Valley plan to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal Thursday at Pasadena’s Central Park.

About 2,000 volunteers with Union Station Homeless Services will dish out turkey, mashed potatoes and all the trimmings to low-income and homeless families and seniors.

Rabbi Marvin Gross of Union Station remembers how he felt when his own 10-year-old daughter – now a college student – scooped food on plates for other children.

“To watch your child participate in helping someone who doesn’t have everything they need to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday – I’d say it’s a moment of satisfaction and pride, ” he said.

This year is the nonprofit’s 38th annual Thanksgiving dinner event. Gross said about 4,000 people showed up at last year and they’re expecting about the same turnout this year. Food will be served at 11:45 a.m. at Central Park at the corner of Del Mar Boulevard and Fair Oaks Avenue.

Gross said they have enough volunteers for Thanksgiving but could use food donations — or some extra help cleaning up the day after the feast. For more information, go to the event home page.