Community Council: Union Station Homeless Services
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!
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.
Mayor Terry Tornek, Ralphs Grocery Company and Food 4 Less will host the 13th Annual “Operation Gobble Gobble” beginning at 7:30 a.m., Saturday, November 21, 2015 in front of Pasadena City Hall, 100 N. Garfield Ave. to distribute 450 Thanksgiving turkeys with all the trimmings to local human service agencies.
In about 90 minutes, a whirlwind of charitable goodwill envelopes the area in front of City Hall as volunteers dash about to distributed the donated food to a long line of pre-determined charitable organizations that receive the items for re-distribution to their clients prior to Thanksgiving.
Including this year, more than over 4,500 Thanksgiving feasts have been provide to the Pasadena community by Ralphs and Food 4 Less, the equivalent of about 45,000 meals, as part of Operation Gobble Gobble.
“Thanksgiving is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to give thanks for the many blessings we’ve received throughout the year,” Pasadena Mayor Terry Tornek said. “I’m pleased to continue the tradition of Operation Gobble Gobble with Ralphs Grocery Company and Food 4 Less, who make it possible to extend a Thanksgiving blessing to many of Pasadena’s most needy families.”
Ralphs and Food 4 Less are generously donating the Thanksgiving turkeys, along with stuffing, canned vegetables, potatoes and pumpkin pie. In addition, volunteer representatives from the companies will team up with Pasadena firefighters and other community members to help distribute the food.
Representatives of community organizations including, among others, Pasadena Unified School District Healthy Start, Union Station Homeless Services, Armenian Relief Society, Ronald McDonald House, Mother’s Club, Friends in Deed Pantry, Lutheran Social Services, Walter Hoving Home, Elizabeth House, and Door of Hope will receive the food for distribution to the community.
“Ralphs and Food 4 Less are pleased to be active citizens in Pasadena, and we are proud to join with Mayor Tornek to help make this Thanksgiving special for many people who otherwise might not have the resources to enjoy a turkey dinner with all the fixings,” said Kendra Doyle, Public Relations Vice President.
For more information about “Operation Gobble Gobble’” contact Rhonda Stone at (626) 744-7147.
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PASADENA – The best way to give thanks is to give back! To show their community spirit and compassion, hundreds of volunteers of all ages will gather together on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day to serve meals and cheer at Union Station Homeless Services’ annual Dinner-in-the-Park.
For more than 40 years, this beloved tradition has been a staple event for the community during the holiday season. Volunteers help prepare and serve meals – including turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and pie – to all who are
hungry at Pasadena’s Central Park on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
“The event brings the community together! Even if it is for one day, hopefully one day leads to another and another and so on and so on!” said Ginger Mort, member of the Los Angeles Disney VoluntEAR Leadership Council and a Union Station Dinner-in-the-Park volunteer since 2001.
Union Station Homeless Services expects to several thousand plates of food this Thanksgiving, November 26th. 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 corporate partners, including HomeStreet Bank, Tsutayo Ichioka & Satsuki Nakao Charitable Foundation, SuperKing Markets, Longo Toyota Scion Lexus, Pasadena Federal Credit Union, Dove Properties, Norton Rose Fullbright, Pasadena Convention Center, 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 valuable holiday outreach program.
Volunteer registration for Thanksgiving opens Sunday, November 1 at 8am, and registration for Christmas opens December 1. Union Station Homeless Services is in need of non-perishable food donations. A wish list of much-needed items can be found on the event page at 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.
