Union Station Homeless Services Distributes Thanksgiving Meal Kits Wednesday

Union Station Homeless Services will distribute Thanksgiving meal boxes Wednesday at its Adult Center in Pasadena, providing families in need with all the ingredients to prepare a holiday dinner at home.

The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 412 S. Raymond Ave. and is part of the nonprofit’s long-running Dinner in the Park initiative, which has operated for more than 50 years.

CEO Katie Hill said demand for meals could double this year due to federal SNAP benefit disruptions affecting about 17,000 Pasadena residents. “With the rollback of these essential benefits, we are anticipating a 300% increase in food pantry boxes,” Hill said in late October. “Last year, we served over 6,000 Thanksgiving meals — that number may double this year.”

Union Station initially sought 750 frozen turkeys but raised its goal to 975 by mid-November, enough to serve an estimated 8,000 meals over three days. On Nov. 13, the organization warned that without sufficient donations, it may need to shorten the event or turn people away.

“The last thing we would want to do is turn away families who look forward to a Thanksgiving meal,” Hill said. “But the truth is, if we don’t receive the food we need, we may need to shorten the event or turn people away.”

Meal boxes include turkey, pie, rolls, stuffing mix, instant potatoes, green beans, corn, gravy mix and crispy onions. Additional Thanksgiving meals will be served at Union Station housing locations Nov. 25 and at the Adult Center Nov. 26 and 28.

Founded in 1973, Union Station Homeless Services serves 32 cities across the San Gabriel Valley.

Dinner in the Park will run on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Union Station Adult Center, 412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 240-4550 or visit https://ushs.org/dinner-in-the-park.