By Carl Kozlowski 12/24/2014
Just because you may be having hard luck is no reason to be alone and hungry on Christmas. Union Station Homeless Services (USHS) is hosting its annual Holiday Dinner-in-the-Park from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today, offering thousands of holiday meals and hope to anyone who is homeless, as well as seniors, very low-income families and those with no place to go for the holidays.
While Union Station is unable to accept more volunteers today, those willing to help can stop by and make a donation of $10 or whatever one can afford, or donate through unionstatonhs.org, to help underwrite the cost of the event and support their year-round mission. Those wishing to serve food are encouraged to register on the USHS site as a volunteer starting Nov. 1 each year for the Thanksgiving dinner, and starting Dec. 1 for the Christmas dinner.
The annual holiday meals have been serving up to 5,000 people each Thanksgiving and Christmas for the past four decades. The charity’s efforts were dealt a setback last year when the Pasadena Health Department Environmental Health Division Manager Liza Frias found that home-prepared food donated to the meals by thousands of area residents each year were violating the California Retail Food Code.
The code regulates how foods are produced for human consumption. Prior to the department’s crackdown, area residents would drive up to the event and hand off home-cooked turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes and green bean casseroles to volunteer servers.
People are still welcome to drop off nonperishable items, like canned goods, or packaged items such as a store-bought apple pie. People are also invited to make a monetary donation in lieu of cooked items.
Companies willing to make an impact on area homelessness throughout the year are encouraged to download the Corporate Sponsor Packet from Union Station’s website. Call (626) 240-4557 or visit unionstationhs.org all year round to find ways to help.
Read more at http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/cms/story/detail/christmas_for_us_all/13942/
Contact: Dana Bean, 626-240-4558, dbean@unionstatonhs.org
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
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Contact: Dana Bean, 626-240-4558, dbean@unionstationhs.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: November 6, 2014
PASADENA– It’s a deeply beloved tradition in Pasadena: each Thanksgiving and Christmas, more than 850 volunteers of all ages – adorned with hair nets, aprons and plastic gloves – lovingly serve turkey with stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and pie to those less fortunate in Pasadena’s Central Park. The tradition known as Dinner-in-the-Park began in 1972 when a group of local volunteers organized a free holiday meal to feed homeless and poor people in the community.More than four decades later, Union Station Homeless Service continues to organize the annual meal as an expression of compassion and care for those who otherwise might not see such holiday fare.
This year, the tradition continues. Union Station Homeless Services expects to serve more than 4,000 plates of food, along with the help of volunteers, and key community partners, including Goldstar, Home Street Bank, Tsutayo Ichioka & Satsuki Nakao Charitable Foundation, Super King, Longo Toyoto-Scion-Lexus, Sprouts Famers Market, Centerplate, and the Pasadena Convention Center. This wonderful 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.
“We are so grateful to the caring volunteers who bring warmth and the true spirit of community to Central Park each year, said Marv Gross, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “Their efforts to help us feed thousands of people is truly inspirational!”
Volunteer registration for Thanksgiving is now closed, but the agency is still in need of non-perishable food donations. A Wish List of much needed items can be found at https://unionstationhs.org/?p=3570.The community is invited to drop off these supplies (in the indicated sizes) at 412 S. Raymond.
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.
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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.
In 1962 my brother Fred started a band called the Perfections. They were rockers. When the heat and the beat got up on a Saturday night, he brought the house down and the East Cost Swing dancers would take off and hit the moon.
Brad’s a homeboy from Brooklyn. Consequently I understand his commitment to service.
“I remember where I came from,” he said. “In La Cañada we’re blessed; we should give back. I want my children to realize, not far from here [there are] people much less fortunate than we are. The mission of Union Station is to help the homeless rebuild their lives and end the cycle of homelessness.”
A few years back, Brad and some guys were hanging out, brainstorming about throwing a party for their friends in La Cañada. At the end of the evening, it had evolved into a rock ‘n’ roll shoot-out with live music and a philanthropical endeavor. Great deeds have ridiculous beginnings. They are often born in a café over coffee.
“This is a La Cañada event.” Brad said. “It was invented in La Cañada, it will be at the Thursday Club, sponsored by La Cañada residents, attended by La Cañadans, and with a La Cañada band.”
Rockin’ for the Homeless I netted $20,000. It was meant to be a one-time thing. However, people wanted it back, subsequently II was born, bringing $50,000 for Union Station. What will Rockin’ for the Homeless III bring?
“This is a testament to La Cañada’s affection for Union Station,” Brad said.
He and I sat over a cup of coffee, trying to intellectualize the essence of this town that speaks to its uniqueness. What drives us to love our town? Its schools, its dancers and its athletes? What causes us to bond and come together for fun and service? The answer to such inquiries was beyond our pay grade. But Brad brought it home when he said, “Whatever makes La Cañada a home is what will bring us together at Rockin’ for the Homeless III. I believe when you try to intellectualize the magic, you lose it.”
Come to this event. Let your hair down. Go crazy. Howl at the moon. You’ll have a great time and you’ll help a bunch of homeless Americans just a couple miles away. Visit unionstationhs.org/event/rock to learn more. The suggested donation is $45.
I’ll never forget the night at Glen Island Casino. It was the first time I asked a girl to dance. After she said, no, I went to the bar and had my first shooter with Yankee Tommy Tresh, the 1962 Rookie of the Year. That night we even saved Frankie Frisch Field and I asked my second girl to dance and tore it up to the sounds of the Perfections.
JOE PUGLIA is a practicing counselor, a retired professor of education and a former officer in the Marines. Reach him at doctorjoe@ymail.com. Visit his website at doctorjoe.us.
