Foothill Unity Center seeking volunteers to brighten Thanksgiving for local families in need

As the number of local people who need help to feed their families continues to grow, Foothill Unity Center is gearing up for its biggest Thanksgiving food distribution ever. “Last year, we served more than 1,500 pre-registered families that included over 5,000 men, women and children,” says Volunteer Coordinator Raina Diaz. “Since times have been really tough, more folks are unemployed and in crisis, and the need for our services has grown. This year’s numbers will be even higher than last year’s, and we need the community’s support more than ever.”

Volunteers are still needed to fill morning and afternoon food sorting shifts Monday, November 8, through Tuesday, November 16 in preparation for the Thanksgiving distribution. Box Packing Day is Saturday, November 20. Shifts also need to be filled for Monday, November 22, and Tuesday, November 23, to help distribute food and assist clients during the event in Ayers Hall at the LA County Arboretum. More help is needed on the 23rd from 1 to 5 p.m. to handle breakdown and cleanup. For more information, site locations, or to register as a volunteer for this program, call Raina or Rob at (626) 358-3486 or email volunteer@foothillunitycenter.org.

Foothill Unity Center always appreciates food donations, but never more than during at Thanksgiving. Many groups hold food drives to help stock the shelves.

“What we always need most are turkey certificates,” says Center Deputy Director Betty McWilliams. “Our wish list also includes canned meats, tuna, vegetables, fruits, pumpkin pie filling, cranberry sauce, chili, beans and hearty soups … mixes for cornbread, biscuits, cake, cookies, stuffing and gravy … frosting, marshmallows, Jell-o®, jams and jellies … cold and hot cereals … salad dressing … and yams.” Donations may be dropped off any weekday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at either Center location: 415 W. Chestnut Ave. in Monrovia or 191 N. Oak Ave. in Pasadena.

Donated funds help the Center fill in the gaps for this large event. Donors may contribute securely online by clicking the Donate Now Button on the Center’s website, www.foothillunitycenter.org, or its Facebook page. Checks may be mailed to Foothill Unity Center, 415 West Chestnut Avenue, Monrovia CA, 91016.

Adopt an angel, bring joy to a child
The Center has launched its 2010 Angel Program – an annual community tradition that helped provide toys and clothing for 3,040 children of low-income families last year. The Center needs volunteers to decorate the paper angels, which feature labels with client children’s gift wishes. It also invites everyone to adopt angel(s) and shop for the children’s gifts on them. (Many organizations and businesses adopt entire flights of angels during the holidays.) Angels can be ordered and picked up at the Center’s Monrovia and Pasadena locations.

About Foothill Unity Center

Now in its thirtieth year, Foothill Unity Center, as the Community Action Agency for the Foothill Area provides a range of crisis services to help low-income families survive these times. Operating with a small staff and a corps of dedicated volunteers, the nonprofit, nondenominational organization distributed over four million pounds of food to 3,974 unduplicated very low-income families in Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Monrovia, Arcadia, Duarte, Sierra Madre, Bradbury, Baldwin Park, Irwindale and Azusa last year. The Center also provides some health services, limited motel vouchers, and referrals to the homeless and people in crisis. Clients must meet low-income guidelines and are recertified annually. Over 93% of every dollar goes to programs. To learn more, receive services, donate or volunteer, call the Center at (626) 358-3486.

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