Giving Thanks by Giving Back: Union Station Homeless Services to feed thousands this holiday season

PASADENA, Calif. - Oct. 29, 2015 - PRLog -- Giving Thanks by Giving Back: Volunteer Registration Opens for Union Station Homeless Services' Annual Dinner-in-the-Park this Sunday

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 serve 5,000 plates of food this Thanksgiving, November 26^th.  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 this Sunday, November 1 at 8am. 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 http://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.

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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.