140 Turkeys Prepped and Ready to Go

Pasadena Convention Center, along with its exclusive food and beverage provider Sodexo Live! and volunteers, prepared and carved 140 turkeys for Union Station Homeless Services’ 52nd annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park.

Tuesday, Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmember and Pasadena Center Operating Company Board Chair Tyron Hampton, Councilmember Felicia Williams and Union Station Homeless Services CEO Anne Miskey were among those on hand at the Pasadena Convention Center kitchen for the turkey prep.

“We are incredibly fortunate that the Pasadena Convention Center and Sodexo Live! are able to help those in need with our contributions to Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park,” said Michael Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company. “It’s our tenth year doing this, and we plan on it for many more years to come. Union Station Homeless Services plays a critical role in providing for our beloved community.”

Each year, Union Station Homeless Services has provided Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park, providing dinners and dinner kits feed over 4,000 community members in need. This year, the Union Station Homeless Services were faced with a turkey shortage like never before.

“After hearing about our dire need for turkeys, the community really stepped up and provided us not only with the turkeys but also all of the ingredients we needed to make this year’s Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park a success,” said Anne Miskey, CEO of Union Station Homeless Services. “We are so grateful for the compassion and holiday spirit our local supporters have demonstrated. It’s incredibly heartwarming. A sincere thank you.”

With the support of volunteers and generous key partners, the prepared turkey dinner meals with all the fixings will be available for pick up at various locations tomorrow, November 23, as well as small, private sit-down dinners for residents living at interim housing locations on Thanksgiving Day.

Community members interested in supporting the Union Station Homeless Services can participate in the welcome home kit program for people moving in or out of the transitional or permanent housing facilities, the adopt-a-meal and lunch sack program providing daily meals to shelter residents and community members in need, the hygiene kits program, as well as volunteer for kitchen shifts and participate in community reintegration programs. For more information, visit https://unionstationhs.org/help/volunteer/.

About Pasadena Convention Center

The Pasadena Convention Center is the premier meetings, entertainment, and events venue in the heart of Pasadena. The 130,000 sq. ft. venue accommodates meetings of all sizes with spacious exhibit halls, an expansive ballroom and over a dozen breakout rooms. The Pasadena Convention Center is proud to be a LEED Gold certified facility and is professionally managed by the Pasadena Center Operating Company. In recent years, the Pasadena Convention Center has averaged over 300 events and attracted over 350,000 attendees. For more information, visit www.pasadenacenter.com.

About Union Station Homeless Services

Union Station Homeless Services is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that is committed to providing permanent solutions to end homelessness and rebuild lives. Headquartered in Pasadena, CA, Union Station has been in existence for almost 50 years. Union Station is the San Gabriel Valley’s largest social service agency assisting homeless and very low-income adults and families. Recently expanding into El Sereno and Eagle Rock, we are the lead county agency for Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3), coordinating homeless services in 36 communities, with a combined population of over 1.5 million across the San Gabriel Valley. Our mission is guided by the belief that everyone deserves a life of dignity and a place to call home. For more information, visit www.unionstationhs.org.