Monrovia's Foothill Unity Center Distributes Food for Holidays

Some 1,240 Foothill Unity Center clients received a generous helping of community caring at the agency’s annual Thanksgiving Distribution on Saturday and Monday, November 23 and 25. The event took place in Ayers Hall at the Los Angeles County Arboretum in Arcadia (Saturday) and at the Center’s Monrovia and Pasadena locations (Monday). Clients came from across the agency’s eleven-city service area — Pasadena, Altadena, South Pasadena, Arcadia, Sierra Madre, Monrovia, Duarte, Azusa, Baldwin Park and Irwindale.

Clients took home holiday food boxes sized by number of people in the family, with meat and the makings for a festive holiday dinner. Over 800 volunteers worked on the program, from planning and preparation to final cleanup. Each client cart was personally escorted through the distribution by a personal volunteer. All participants received Thanksgiving cards handmade by local school children. 300 turkeys were donated, trucked in and distributed by California American Water Company, while representatives of PCL Construction were on hand to present a $5,000 check.

Less than a month after this event, families will receive festive food boxes again at the annual Holiday Distribution on Saturday, December 21, and Monday, December 23. At the Arboretum event on Saturday, reserved for families with children, each family will also take home an opaque bag pre-packed with new toys and clothing for each child.  The presents are donated through the Center’s Angels program, which invites individuals and groups to adopt paper angels hand-decorated by community volunteers of all ages. Written on each angel is one child’s gift wishes.

“We don’t give the presents to the children,” says Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams. “Gifts for each family’s youngsters are gathered in an opaque bag that’s given to the parents so they can wrap and give them as part of their own holiday traditions.” At the event, children will also enjoy fun activities and a chance to share their wishes with Santa.

77% of the Center’s clients are at or below the National Poverty Level. “The holidays are an especially difficult time for families who fight hunger every day,” says Center Executive Director Betty McWilliams. “The difficult economy and cuts in the CalFresh food stamp program are swelling the ranks of local people who need help to feed their families. Community support is more vital than ever — both to help them and to let them know their neighbors care.”

The Center is seeking donations of food, funds and volunteer time for the Holiday Distribution. Funds may be donated securely online at foothillunitycenter.org. Food and checks may be dropped off weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at either Center location: 415 W. Chestnut Ave. in Monrovia or 191 N. Oak Ave. in Pasadena. Information on volunteer shifts, most-needed food items and the Angel program is available at foothillunitycenter.org/holiday-distribution-programs or by calling the Center at (626) 358-3486.

Source: Foothill Unity Center press release

- Bradd Haugaard