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:
Tsutayo Ichioka & Satsuki Nakao Foundation, HomeStreet Bank, SuperKing Markets, Longo Toyota Scion Lexus, Pasadena Federal Credit Union, Dove Properties, Pasadena Convention Center, Norton Rose Fullbright, Paul Hastings, Centerplate, Chipotle, and Whole Foods.
“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
Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. 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. Headquartered in Pasadena, we are the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. We believe every person deserves a life of dignity and a safe place to call home. With over 40 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of nine programs throughout the San Gabriel Valley; services include street outreach, intake/assessment, care coordination and navigation, meals, shelter, housing, employment development, benefits enrollment, and referrals to medical and mental health services.
Thanksgiving meals are served to those in need during the Union Station Homeless Services’ Annual Dinners-in-the-Park at Central Park in Pasadena on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015. (Photo by Watchara Phomicinda/ Pasadena Star-News)
Photos: Thanksgiving meals served to those in need during the Pasadena Annual Dinners-in-the-Park
POSTED BY WATCHARA PHOMICINDA ON 11/26/2015 5:40PM TAGS: PHOTOS
Thanksgiving meals are served to those in need during the Union Station Homeless Services’ Annual Dinners-in-the-Park at Central Park in Pasadena on Thursday, Nov. 26, 2015.
Star-studded Night of Comedy Raises $87,000 to Help End Homelessness
From STAFF REPORTS
5:17 pm | October 21, 2015
On October 15, 2015, Union Station Homeless Services’ 16th annual An Evening for the Station brought comedy lovers and community members together for an incredible night of laughter and entertainment to demonstrate that Homelessness is No Laughing Matter!
Union Station brought a fun twist to its long-running event with its first-ever comedy show! ArcLight Cinemas Pasadena filled with more than 400 guests for a stellar show of comedians from Netflix, HBO, Showtime, Comedy Central, and more!
Event producer and comedian Ed Salazar opened the evening and presented a hilarious line-up featuring Kumail Nanjiani (The Meltdown, Silicon Valley), Jonah Ray (Nerdist, The Meltdown), Baron Vaughn (Grace and Frankie), Matt Peters (Orange is the New Black), Susan Burke (Smashed), and Jay Larson (Best Bars in America).
The audience heard Horacio give a moving testimonial about his experience at Union Station. Horacio, who worked as activist and well-esteemed UC lecturer, lost his housing due to health complications and mounting stress. After living on the streets of LA for almost two years, Union Station helped Horacio rebuild his life. “When you’re homeless, you need a tough spirit to survive,” said Horacio. “Sometimes, you survive with the help of others. I will forever be thankful of the life-changing work of Union Station and its amazing staff!” Today, he has housing and is currently looking for full-time work.
The event raised $87,000 in support of Union Station Homeless Services, the San Gabriel Valley’s largest and most comprehensive social service agency assisting homeless adults and families.
Corporate sponsors included Comedy Central, Norton Rose Fulbright, Westport Construction, Kauffman Wealth Services, Goldstar, Noor!
Visit https://goo.gl/vT5AHk and #USHSComedy for event photos and more!
About Union Station Homeless Services
Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. 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. Headquartered in Pasadena, the agency is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Every person deserves a life of dignity and a safe place to call home. With over 40 years of experience, Union Station proudly offers nine programs throughout the San Gabriel Valley; with services including street outreach, intake, care coordination, meals, shelter, housing, employment, benefits enrollment, and referrals to medical and mental health services. www.unionstationhs.org
LOS ANGELES – June 11, 2015 – The California Community Foundation (CCF)
has awarded $8,897,722 through 94 grants to Los Angeles County nonprofit
organizations working to address the wide-ranging needs of our region. CCF
supports this critical work in the community through discretionary funds entrusted
to the foundation by donors throughout its 100-year history.
The grants this quarter support the foundation’s diverse priority areas: the arts, civic
engagement, education, health, housing and economic development, immigrant
integration, nonprofit sustainability, smart growth and transition-aged youth.
Grants were also awarded in support of key CCF initiatives:
• Building a Lifetime of Options and Opportunities for Men (BLOOM) is
California’s most ambitious effort to improve educational and career
opportunities for Black male youth.
• El Monte Community Building Initiative engages local residents in
ensuring children in the City of El Monte grow up healthier and better
prepared for college and a career.
• Los Angeles Preschool Advocacy Initiative (LAPAI) seeks to increase
access to high quality early childhood education in underserved
communities.
• Los Angeles Scholars Investment Fund (LASIF) combines scholarships
with college preparation and completion services to increase the number of
low-income students who graduate with post-secondary degrees.
• One Los Angeles, One Nation seeks to change misperceptions and
promote incorporation of the American Muslim and perceived Muslim
communities through civic engagement, leadership development and public
policy.
• Preparing Achievers for Tomorrow (PAT) provides music, sports and
recreational opportunities to low-income youth in South Los Angeles.
“We applaud our donors and nonprofit partners who have not only recognized the
needs in our community, but have shown leadership to address these issues,” said
CCF President and CEO Antonia Hernández. “As the foundation enters its 100th year
of service to Los Angeles County, we are proud to support this work to improve the
quality of life for all Angelenos.”
CCF unites the power of philanthropy with innovative strategies to create greater
equity, opportunity and prosperity in Los Angeles County. The foundation has served
as a public, charitable organization since 1915, empowering donors to pursue their
own personal passions and to collaborate in transforming Los Angeles. CCF
stewards $1.48 billion in assets and manages nearly 1,600 charitable foundations,
funds and legacies.
(View full list of California Community Foundation Grants by Funding Area HERE).
For more information, visit calfund.org, like us on Facebook at
facebook.com/calfund and follow us on Twitter @Calfund.
Los Angeles, CA – Super King Markets are hungry to help this holiday season. The Southern California grocery store chain has teamed up with Union Station Homeless Services to collect food for those in need. The market will be hosting food drives in all six of its stores from November 18 until the end of the year.
“I am excited about this opportunity to help our communities,” said Daniel Barth, General Manager of Super King Markets. “Super King is in the food business. The opportunity to support a great organization like Union Station Homeless Services that focuses on feeding people is a natural partnership for us.
“On the very first day,” continued Barth, “one of our customers donated $80 worth of food. I feel proud that we are engaging our shoppers to help others in such an impactful and intentional way.”
The food collected will be used to prepare holiday meals at Union Station’s “Dinners-in-the-Park,” a holiday feast which feeds more than 7,000 people. In addition to donating food collected, Super King is also a sponsor of the annual event, which is held on Thanksgiving and Christmas in Pasadena’s Central Park each year.
“This amazing community event would not be possible without the support of sponsors like Super King, as well hundreds of volunteers who help us serve food on Thanksgiving and Christmas,” said Dana Bean, Director of Development for Union Station.
For Super King shoppers and other friends of the community that want to support Union Station Homeless Services and the Dinners-in-the-Park holiday food drive, here is a list of the most needed items:
Item Needed
Exact Size Needed
Canned Green Beans
6 lbs. 5 oz. (#10 Can)
Mushroom Soup
26 oz. or larger
Cranberry Sauce
6 lbs. 5 oz. (#10 can)
Canned Corn
6 lbs. 5 oz. (#10 can)
Instant Mashed Potatoes
26 oz. or larger
Italian Salad Dressing
16 oz.
Pumpkin Pie
Any Size
Full Size Deep Aluminum Steam Pans with Lids
20.75” x 12.8” x 3.2”
Ground Coffee
Any Size
Items can be dropped of Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4.30pm at 412 S. Raymond Ave. The community is also invited to make a donation at www.unionstationhs.org.
ABOUT UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES
Union Station Homeless Services, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is committed to helping homeless men, women and children rebuild their lives. 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. We are the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. We believe every person deserves a life of dignity and a safe place to call home. With 41 years of experience, we proudly offer a full continuum of eight programs in seven locations; services include street outreach, intake/assessment, care coordination and navigation, meals, shelter, housing, employment development, benefits enrollment, and referrals to medical and mental health services
