On Friday morning, before dawn breaks over Old Pasadena, seniors will begin lining up outside the Pasadena Senior Center on Holly Street. Some arrive as early as 6 a.m., hours before the doors open at 8:30 a.m., driven by a simple necessity: putting food on the table.
The December 5 distribution reflects a deepening crisis in Pasadena, where 14 percent of seniors live in poverty and demand for food assistance continues to surge. The center, which serves approximately 500 seniors each month through its partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank, has become a lifeline for older adults navigating the gap between fixed Social Security checks and the next meal.
Akila Gibbs, the center’s Executive Director, secured $140,000 in emergency funding in October to prepare for anticipated CalFresh (SNAP) benefit suspensions. “Every month, we serve nearly 500 seniors through our food programs: a monthly food distribution in partnership with the LA Regional Food Bank, a free produce giveaway every third Friday, and an emergency food pantry that bridges the gap between Social Security checks and the next meal,” Gibbs wrote in an October 29 op-ed.
The program has stopped accepting new enrollments, with seniors not currently enrolled placed on waiting lists. Eligible participants receive one free box if single, or two boxes if coupled, containing cheese, canned fruits and vegetables, dry milk, cereals and grains supplemented throughout the year with fresh meat and vegetables.
In November, Amanda Green, Chief Operating Officer of Union Station Homeless Services, reported: “On Day 1 of Dinner in the Park this week, the car line was the longest I have ever seen. We were able to meet the need yesterday, but our pantry is now wiped!”
Mayor Victor Gordo and Councilmember Justin Jones urged nonprofits to coordinate responses, while the Pasadena Community Foundation announced $100,000 in grants to 12 local nonprofits, food pantries and faith-based organizations.
Food Distribution Programs will run on Friday, Dec. 5 at 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Pasadena Senior Center, 85 East Holly Street, Pasadena, CA 91103. For more information, call (626) 685-6732 or visit https://www.pasadenaseniorcenter.org/resources/food-distribution-programs. Free for eligible participants.
