Pasadena Residents Launch ‘Food Hug’ Program to Recognize Frontline Heroes with a Meal

Pasadena residents recently teamed up with the national nonprofit Latino Restaurant Association (LRA) to launch a new initiative designed to feed front-line heroes while supporting minority-owned businesses in the city.

Known as the Pasadena Food Hug, the program buys meals for personnel in health care, grocery stores, senior living/nursing homes, utilities, as well as first responders and other frontline workers.

“We want to show our appreciation for essential workers who are on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as help support our local restaurants,” said Trisha Muse, 16-year Pasadena Resident.

Muse, Food Hug founder and LRA volunteer. “The Pasadena Food Hug program is a win-win for the local economy and for our everyday heroes.”

Each Friday, the organization will deliver meals to essential workers on the job. This Friday’s meal deliveries will include “food hugs” for nearly 300 Pasadena utility and sanitation workers.

Pasadena Food Hug has already raised nearly $50,000 from Pasadena residents and local businesses.

 “We are delighted to introduce some amazing restaurants to local essential workers while at the same time stimulating the economy with our ‘food hug’ initiative,” said LRA board Chair Lilly Rocha.

“The Pasadena Food Hug program is more evidence that Pasadena residents and businesses support each other,” said Pasadena Councilmember Margaret McAustin.

“Who doesn’t need a hug every once in a while? A terrific idea created by one of our own Pasadena residents,” said McAustin.

The donation events are being hosted in tandem with LRA’s extended Feeding Frontliners campaign, which purchases meals from Southern California Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) restaurants to feed frontline/essential workers.

The LRA has provided thousands of hot meals and care packages to essential workers all over California through the support of organizations such as SoCalGas, the Walmart Foundation, Gaviña Coffee, and hundreds of individual donors.

The LRA Food Hug initiative plans to host meals for essential workers in the Pasadena area until December, or until funds are depleted. 

To make a donation, visit https://latinorestaurantassociation.org/pfh