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Pasadena police officers fanned out across Pasadena Thursday morning, but for this operation they were looking to deliver hot turkey dinners to those in need, like elderly citizens in the community who are homebound.
The annual acts of compassion are performed as the field arm of Pasadena’s Salvation Army Thanksgiving Day events, caring and feeding for the homeless and the forgotten.
Many of the off-duty officers brought along their children to help in the meal delivery and get understand what helping people in need in the community is all about.
Captain Terry Masango, Executive Director of the Salvation Army Pasadena Corps, said the local Tabernacle prepares about 800 hot turkey dinners every year and half of these are delivered by Pasadena police officers, police department employees and police volunteers.
The rest are served to those who come to the Salvation Army facility at 960 E. Walnut Street, where the tables yesterday were resplendent in holiday decorations.
Jhoana Hirasuna, Director of Social Services at Salvation Army Pasadena, said police officers made up most of the 50 drivers that showed up to pick up packed meals from the Salvation Army offices and deliver them to homebound seniors. Other volunteers assisted with serving meals onsite.
“A lot of them are community members, including our wonderful Pasadena Police Department who is supporting us, and just a lot of individuals who have reached out to spend a couple of minutes with our seniors today who are homebound, making sure that they, too, have a very wonderful Thanksgiving. And that’s just the beginning of the day,” Hirasuna said.
The Salvation Army has been sponsoring these Thanksgiving meals for over a decade, Masango said. Pasadena police officers and other volunteers usually arrive at about 8:30 a.m. for a briefing about route assignments, before they set out to deliver the meals. The hot meals are usually delivered by 11 a.m.
“We love doing what we do and we’re grateful to community partners like the police department and other donors who help us meet the needs of our community,” Masango said.
Interim Police Chief John Perez was on site early Thanksgiving morning, as the officers were waiting for their assigned routes.
“I’m very grateful for all the Pasadena police officers that took the time this morning on Thanksgiving and are part of this whole event,” Perez said. “But I think it has a new meaning to it today with all the emergencies we’re having across the country, the fires and other events that are happening tragically. I think we’re coming together more as a community and days like today help remind us how we’re all alike, we’re all one and we’re here to support one another.”
For many of the officers taking part in the project, some of whom had to be away from their families during the holiday, delivering free meals to people in need was a way to brighten the day for themselves, said Lt. Jason Lawson, Public Information Officer at the Pasadena Police Department.
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