Pasadena Thanksgiving Giveaways Face Record Demand Amid Deepening Food Crisis

A deepening food crisis is putting immense pressure on cherished local Thanksgiving giveaways, with organizers facing an unprecedented demand surge.

 

For many families in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley, these holiday meals are a critical lifeline.

 

The tradition itself now hangs in the balance.

 

Union Station Homeless Services, famous for its annual Dinner in the Park, is sounding the alarm over a severe food shortage.

 

Officials report that the number of people needing help has skyrocketed due to rising grocery prices and cuts to federal food benefits.

 

The fear is that they may have to turn people away for the first time.

 

The organization has issued a desperate plea for donations, particularly turkeys, to meet the escalating need in the community.

 

Similarly, Foothill Unity Center, which serves communities from Pasadena to Monrovia, is witnessing a dramatic spike in clients seeking assistance.

 

Many are first-time visitors who have never needed help before, a stark sign of the region's economic strain.

 

The center is grappling with decreased government funding just as demand reaches a critical peak.

 

Without a significant increase in community support, providing thousands of families with a holiday meal is at risk.

 

These nonprofits are calling for volunteers, nonperishable food items, and monetary donations to close the gap.

 

The community's response in the coming days will determine if these vital Thanksgiving giveaways can survive the pressure.

 

Foothill Unity Center will hold its annual Thanksgiving food distribution on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 18–19, with volunteers preparing and handing out food kits to families in Pasadena and Monrovia.

 

Those interested in supporting the effort can learn more atFoothillunitycenter.org/volunteer