Hillsides Charity Distributes More Than 100 Baskets of Food for Needy for Thanksgiving Holidays

(PASADENA) Due to the generosity of four local organizations and businesses, Hillsides, a Los Angeles County charity, has collected 102 food baskets to distribute this Thanksgiving season for families in need. The bins, filled with staples such as rice, potatoes, cereal, canned vegetables and canned fruits, were donated by the Pasadena area chapter of the National Charity League (NCL), the Pasadena Lake Avenue branch of the Bank of America, and Alexandria Real Estate Equities in Pasadena. The city of Pasadena also provided 20 turkeys and 20 bags of Thanksgiving trimmings.

“I cannot thank these four groups enough for helping out families during this holiday season,” said Laura Kelso, Hillsides director of community resources. “Each basket has enough food to feed a family for 10-14 days, which will be a life-saver for those families in our community with very few resources who otherwise might go without.”
This is the tenth year that the Pasadena chapter of the NCL, which fosters the mother-daughter relationship through community service, has donated Thanksgiving baskets for Hillsides. “This drive is a way our members can take our family values of caring and share them with another family,” said Pasadena branch President Paula Knop.

One mom, Judy Penner, and her daughter spent an entire Sunday shopping and sorting the food. “My daughter felt really good knowing she was helping someone,” said Penner. “We put together five baskets and would have done 10, but we couldn’t fit any more in our car.”

In other holiday events, on November 16, volunteers from the Optimist Club at Gabrielino High School in San Gabriel made Thanksgiving crafts with the children in residence at Hillsides. On Wednesday, November 27, the recreation staff of Hillsides will put on a pre-Thanksgiving Day feast on campus for the children complete with party favors and special treats.

“During this time of giving, we are so thankful for the organizations, businesses, and staff that make sure families and children are provided for during this time of the year,” said Joseph M. Costa, Hillsides chief executive officer. “Hillsides helps more than 7,400 individuals a year, and such support would not be possible without the incredible generosity of our volunteers and donors.”

Hillsides is a premier provider dedicated to improving the overall well-being and functioning of vulnerable children, youth, and their families. Our vision is to create lasting change in the lives of at-risk children and youth we serve. We provide high quality care, advocacy, and innovative services that promote safe, permanent environments where young people can thrive.

Hillsides has four main programs:
Family Resource Centers, which offer numerous community based programs and services that provide parenting classes, mental health support and additional crucial resources for vulnerable children and families throughout Los Angeles County.
Residential Treatment Services, which provide a safe and stable environment where children and youths, who cannot live at home, suffered trauma, or have severe emotional or behavioral challenges, can thrive.
Education Center, a therapeutic residential and day school that offers individualized education for students with social-emotional, learning and/or behavioral challenges for children in kindergarten through 12th grade.
Youth Moving On, which provides former foster youth affordable quality housing and numerous support services to help them become responsible, self-sufficient adults.

Hillsides
940 Avenue 64
Pasadena, CA 91105
323-254-2274
Company Contact/Press Contact:
Marisol Barrios
mbarrios@hillsides.org
323-543-2800 ext 128
815 Colorado Blvd, Suite 300
Los Angeles, CA 90041

This release was published on openPR.