City Preps for Thanksgiving

As Union Station Homeless Services prepared to distribute more than 4,000 Thanksgiving meals — a 100% increase over last year —Mayor Victor Gordo, Councilmenber Tyron Hampton and Union Station CEO Anne Miskey joined workers at the Pasadena Convention Center kitchen to help prepare 200 turkeys Friday morning.

Union Station Homeless Services’ annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the Park program will support over 4,500 individuals in need, thanks to the help of volunteers and generous key partners, according to Miskey.

“That shows that the need has really increased this year,” she said.

This year some dinners and dinner kits with all the fixings were handed out in advance, while smaller, private dinners will be held the day before Thanksgiving at multiple centers serving homeless individuals.

Michael Ross, CEO of the Pasadena Center Operating Company, said the Center has been more than happy to help.

“It has been an honor for the Pasadena Convention Center and Centerplate to donate resources in order to help make Union Station Homeless Services Dinner in the Park a success,” said Ross. “We are grateful for the services and meals they offer and are pleased to participate, for the ninth time, in such a giving cause especially during this difficult time.”

Following a brief carving lesson from new convention center Executive Chef Diego Lopez, Gordo, Hampton and Miskey set about carving and slicing the turkeys, which will be refrigerated and then prepared next week as part of the Thanksgiving celebration for hundreds of needy families.

Both Mayor Gordo and Councilmember John Kennedy will also be distributing Thanksgiving Turkeys this weekend. Councilmember Kennedy will distribute turkeys at Robinson Park Saturday at 8 a.m., while the mayor will hand out turkeys at Pasadena City Hall at the same time.