Local Sandwich Shop Takes the Lead in Helping Needy Families During Thanksgiving

Pasadena Sandwich Company and several community organizations and volunteers will be serving a warm Thanksgiving meal to families in transition on Thanksgiving Day, November 26th, during Pasadena’s 4th annual Share a Meal program.

The Share a Meal team will be serving around 350 people in a “safe, fun-loving and stress-free environment,” says Meghan Fink, co-founder of the Share a Meal Program and Managing Owner of Pasadena Sandwich Company.

“They can do arts and crafts, enjoy a Photo Booth, shop for school supplies to put into their new backpacks and go home with a Blessing Bag, allowing the families a few important items like first aid kits, toothbrushes, grocery gift cards,” Fink says. “This day makes such a difference in the lives of these families and reminds us what Thanksgiving Day is truly about, remembering how blessed we are, being with family, and giving back.”

The Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Unified School District, Sydney Paige and Remainders Creative Reuse are cooperating in the Share a Meal event, which welcomes support from other organizations and individual volunteers.

Support from the community may include donations of canned food, goods, gift certificates and money, and volunteering to help during the Thanksgiving Day event.

PUSD’s Families in Transition, the district’s homeless and transitional program, has identified guest families for the Share a Meal activity.

Last year, the team served over 300 people, distributed 60 blessing bags with local goods and services for the guest families, and helped as every child in attendance shopped for a brand new backpack and school supplies.

“It is by far the most incredible day of our year,” says Fink. “Please check out our new website. I am amazed by the number of incredible humans who put their hearts into giving back.”

If you are interested in making an online donation and/or volunteering, visit the Share a Meal website, www.pasadenashareameal.com, send an e-mail to pasadenashareameal@gmail.com, or call (626) 578-1616.

Share a Meal started in 2012 when Fink and Pasadena fire fighter Steve Lawhorn launched the annual Thanksgiving event, supported by the other Fink siblings – Kaytee Nicole and Jon, the children of Steve Fink who founded the Pasadena Sandwich Company which has been a feature in the city since 1995.

Since then, the City of Pasadena and other community organizations have been part of the annual activity.