Anne Miskey, CEO On The Future Of Pasadena
Guest Opinion | Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services: What is the Future of Pasadena?
Guest Opinion | Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services: What is the Future of Pasadena?
Union Station Homeless Services is part of a premier group of human services agencies in Los Angeles County that are leading the way to ending homelessness in our community. They are the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Since 1973, Union Station has helped rebuild the lives of thousands of people who were once homeless and without hope.
This year, UHSH is hosting a Dinner In The Park at Pasadena Central Park on Christmas Day! This incredible community event provides thousands of holiday meals and hope for all who attend, including homeless men, women, children, seniors, very low-income families, and those with no place to go during the holidays. The impact of this event in the community is huge!
Learn more about Union Station Homeless Services by listening to our Community Council interview with Octavia Sisley below! Check out their site here.
As LA’s homeless population surges, how to handle panhandling
by AirTalk December 21, 05:05 PM
Tents used by the homeless line a downtown Los Angeles street with the skyline behind Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2015.DAMIAN DOVARGANES/AP
Listen to this story 15 MIN 50 SEC
While L.A.’s homeless population grows, the question looms of how to handle giving to those in need, especially during the holiday season.
According to the Los Angeles Almanac, there are over 44,000 transients living in Los Angeles County.
Rabbi Marvin Gross, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services, offered a few best practices for donating during the holidays, and during every season.
His advice?
Refrain from donating cash “Unfortunately when folks are out there asking for money, it’s hard to know what uses they are going to put it to,” Gross said.
Buy food for the hungry. Gross suggested that in lieu of donating money, take a person in need to a restaurant, or bring them some food.
Give your money to organizations. Another option Gross gave is to opt for donating to charitable organizations that work with the homeless population in Los Angeles, like Union Station Homeless Services.
Volunteer your time. Eliminating money from the equation all together, another way to be charitable is to volunteer for organizations that help the homeless. Gross said that Union Station Homeless Services has volunteers every day, and there is information about getting involved on its website, unionstationhs.org. Other organizations to volunteer with include Los Angeles Mission and Union Rescue Mission.
Guest:
Rabbi Marvin Gross, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services
With contributions by Kellie Galentine
To spread holiday cheer and joy, hundreds of volunteers of all ages will gather together on Christmas Day to serve meals at Union Station Homeless Services’ 43rd annual Dinner-in-the-Park.
For more than four decades, this beloved tradition has been a staple event for the community during the holiday season.
Donned in hairnets, gloves and welcoming smiles, hundreds of volunteers will serve warm holiday meals to all who are hungry at Pasadena’s Central Park on Christmas Day.
“The event brings the community together!” said Ginger Mort, member of the Los Angeles Disney VoluntEAR Leadership Council and a Union Station Dinner-in-the-Park volunteer since 2001. “Even if it is for one day, hopefully one day leads to another and another and so on and so on!”
Union Station Homeless Services and its volunteers served more than 3,500 plates of food on Thanksgiving, and the agency expects to serve an additional 1,500 plates of food on Christmas Day.
Meal recipients will include adults and families experiencing homelessness and poverty, senior citizens, and those who are alone at the holidays or unable to afford a holiday meal.
In addition to volunteers, the event is made possible thanks to generous partners:
“The Pasadena Convention Center and Centerplate is thrilled to support Union Station Homeless Services by preparing turkeys for Dinner-in-the-Park,” said Michael Ross, CEO, Pasadena Center Operating Company. “We applaud Union Station’s work to serve thousands of meals to the hungry and homeless during the holiday season and are pleased to participate in such a worthwhile cause.”
“Dinner-in-the-Park is truly a community event and simply would not be possible without the help of dedicated volunteers and dozens of businesses who make this event such a success,” said Marv Gross, CEO of Union Station.
All who are able to help are invited to donate their time, food items or funds to this incredible holiday outreach program.
• Union Station Homeless Services is still in need of non-perishable food donations.
• A wish list of items needed can be found on the event pageat https://unionstationhs.org/event/dinner-in-the-park-2015/.
• The community is invited to drop off these supplies in the indicated sizes at 412 S. Raymond, Pasadena.
• Please Note: Due to Health Department regulations, Union Station Homeless Services is no longer able to accept turkey or prepared food donations at the event.
About Union Station Homeless Services