Free Hot Meals Program Celebrates a Birthday, and a Reprieve

 

A free hot meals giveaway program celebrated its second birthday and an eviction reprieve Thursday night with a party led by its founding philanthropist Robin Salzer and attended by some of the same city officials who sought the program’s ouster just days earlier.

First Report. More soon.

Several weeks ago, the Pasadena United Hot Meals Program had been told by Human Services Dept. officials that it could no longer use the Villa-Parke Community Center to serve free dinners after April 10.

Yesterday, the city announced the program could stay, at least for 60 days.

“I would like to thank the City of Pasadena for stepping up to support a meal program that our residents rely on and who in some cases their lives depend on,” Salzer said.

“It’s incredibly exciting what the community, the business community and the city can do when they put their heads together and they put their hearts together, what can be accomplished,” Salzer said. “It’s infinite — the possibilities are just totally infinite.”

The auditorium at Villa-Parke where the meals are served was decked out for a party and a pink and purple birthday cake on hand for Thursday’s event.

English Afro-European rock guitarist Caleb Quaye, who has performed with Mick Jagger, Elton John and Paul McCartney, provided background music.

As Salzer circled the room greeting volunteers and city officials and well-wishers, his partner Walt Jackson kept an eye on the food service as families, the elderly and some homeless queued up for dinner.

Mercy Santoro, Director, Human Services and Recreation Department, donned a hair net and served food with a number of volunteers from Harvest Rock Church.

“The Department wants to cooperatively work with Mr. Salzer to make sure his volunteer efforts are successful and benefit the Villa-Parke neighborhood,” Santoro said.

“Villa-Parke is an important recreation, sports and community service complex for the City. We have a strong commitment to serving all of Pasadena while also being sensitive to the specific needs of the Villa-Parke community. Mr. Salzer’s philanthropy is to be commended and we want to work with him to make sure he has the opportunity to continue his good work,” Santoro said.