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Holy Family Giving Bank kicked off the season of giving and gratitude this morning with their annual Thanksgiving food distribution where close to 500 turkeys along with produce and canned goods are given out to close to 350 citizens from South Pasadena and surrounding areas. The Giving Bank distributes meats (including USDA items), groceries and packaged goods to those in need every Monday from 9am – 10:45am, usually serving about 250 people. They do another holiday distribution close to Christmas.
Director of Life, Justice and Peace, Marlene Moore, who has been with Holy Family for 13 years, 8 of those as director, tells us, “First and foremost to South Pasadena residents and Holy Family Boy Scout Troup 333, I’d like to thank the community for the food drive. The Community Food Drive that’s done in a partnership with us – and we had a lot of volunteers from Trinity, our young adult groups that Joe Manahan leads, many Boy Scout volunteers and many parishioners came in on Saturday and donated enough food that we filled over 500 bags of food. That food is being distributed this morning – so a huge thank you to the community is the biggest thing I want to say besides Happy Thanksgiving.”
Moore shares any extra food with other organizations. As a part of Los Angeles Food Bank, Holy Family participates in Feeding America through them, so there are brown bags of food items that are provided by them with weekly deliveries on Tuesdays.
Mayor Cacciotti, who attends this every year and volunteers regularly at the Giving Bank, has said of this event, “this is an incredible program with incredible volunteers and staff. When you see the smiles on the faces of those receiving – when they get to their car, just bringing that food home to their families. It’s very fulfilling for myself, what a great program for the city. About 20% of the residents of our city take advantage of the program and the rest come from surrounding areas, serving over 200 families each week. So if you know anyone who needs food, who needs help, send them over to Holy Family Food Bank on Mondays. If you know anyone unhoused, they give lunches every day at 11am to anyone who comes and knocks on the back door.”
Wishing everyone in our community and beyond a very Happy Thanksgiving.
Holy Family Church Giving Bank is located at the St. Joseph Center across the street from Holy Family Church at 1524 Fremont Avenue – the brick building on the corner of Oak Street in South Pasadena. To inquire about donating or volunteering contact Director Marlene Moore (626) 403-6141.
