Pasadena Food Hug Program Comes to an End

Members of Pasadena Food Hug distribute meals in undated photos provided by the organization.

After 32 weeks of distributing fresh meals to Pasadena’s frontline workers while at the same time supporting local minority-owned restaurants, the organization Pasadena Food Hug is coming to an end as the pandemic shows signs of lifting.

Since starting Pasadena Food Hug in August, Trisha Muse spearheaded the collection of more than $80,000 in donations, which the group used to buy meals from 10 Black- and Latino-owned businesses in town and deliver as a token of gratitude to essential workers, from healthcare professionals and first responders to bus drivers and utility workers, she explained.

In addition to displaying thanks to essential workers, the program was meant to provide support to restaurants, “helping them get through, what is hopefully the worst of this crisis,” she said.

Once a week, on “Food Hug Fridays,” the organization gifted meals to more than 6,500 essential workers in more than 30 organizations.

Muse said the community’s generosity far exceeded her initial fundraising goals.

“It’s been such an amazing experience. I’m so thankful for all the people that I’ve met through this process,” she said. “That’s definitely been the highlight of it.”

“COVID is horrible and the pandemic was horrible, but there are some good things to come out of it. Whenever there’s an emergency, people pull together. Neighbors helping neighbors,” Muse said. “So that’s the beautiful thing about this whole program. Everybody came out to help, and everyone helped put positive energy out there.”

The idea was inspired by another meal distribution program operated by her employer, Southern California Gas Co., Muse said.

SoCalGas/Sempra agreed to match donations by employees into the fund, and the organization also partnered with the Latino Restaurant Association, she added.

“I put in money and a lot of my generous colleagues put in money and then Sempra helped match it, so that really helped with our fundraising,” Muse said. The program continued to grow through outreach by dedicated volunteers, as well.

“When I originally planned this, my goal was to raise $30,000, and I thought the program would last through November 2020, but we ended up raising over $80,000,” she said.

“I feel like we’ve accomplished what we set out to do. I don’t want to permanently close the door, because if things go south again with the pandemic and the restaurants need help, or the frontline workers need a hug, then maybe we can revisit and try to fundraise again,” she said.

“The restaurants are getting busier and they’re getting in-person dining, both inside and outside. And so it’s probably a good time to take a break,” Muse said.

More information about Pasadena Food Hug is available online at https://latinorestaurantassociation.org/pfh.