I was fortunate to win a ticket from Yelp for Union Station Homeless Services' annual fundraiser. My ticket allowed me to participate virtually in the Roarin' 2021 Evening for the Station event and silent auction and also included a boxed meal from Porta Via. Union Station Homeless Services is a nonprofit committed to helping individuals and families facing hunger, poverty, and homelessness in the community by providing the tools and resources they need to rebuild their lives. Last year, during the pandemic, they helped over 1,000 people find homes and employment. The day before the fundraiser I stopped by their office to pick up my boxed meal from Porta Via. Porta Via is a casual Italian market, deli, bakery & restaurant located in Pasadena. My meal consisted of roasted vegetable skewers, orecchiette pesto pasta salad, and mixed greens with feta, cranberries with a light vinaigrette. (Grilled Salmon and Grilled Chicken Kabobs were the other options.) Everything was delicious! This year's Evening for the Station was a hybrid event held virtually and in person. The in-person function was held at the University Club Pasadena. Entertainment for the evening featured performances from the Gerry Rothschild Band and a variety dance show by Todd Elliot Entertainment. Union Station's CEO Anne Miskey told us about all the wonderful work the nonprofit does. Gerry Rothschild mentioned that he also volunteers for Union Station Homeless Services and serves lunches every Thursday. There were some technical difficulties with the live feed but, overall, it was a very enjoyable event. The music was good, the dancers were fantastic, and there were some great items available in the silent auction, which I did bid on. Thank you so much Megan & Yelp for the opportunity to enjoy this experience. read more

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What a great experience! I won tickets through Yelp to their "A Roarin' 2021 Evening for the Station" event. I was able to chose to either attend the event in person or through zoom. I decided to attend through zoom because we're going through Covid. I was able to pick up a meal the day before. I got the grilled salmon by Porta Via. The food tasted great especially the salad that came with it. The event was very interesting to me. I've never attended an event through zoom. I was able to listen to music that I don't normally listen to but enjoyed every second of it. There were items being auctioned but I wasn't able to place a bid on anything unfortunately. I really did appreciate every moment of this experience. I remember I used to come to their Holly location and volunteer with my church during Thanksgiving so I was super excited to have won tickets to this event. read more

Union Station Homeless Services - Homeless Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

I made a donation for Thanksgiving the other day the office is well organized, and the staff is very pleasant. I know I will be back before the holidays to bring toys for under privileged children. Overall, my experience here is always great. read more

I have volunteered at Union Station a number of times over the years and have been reminded each time how fortunate we are to have this organization here. They are a wonderful group of people that offer support to those in need in so many ways. read more

I received the free ticket from Yelp to attend the Roarin' at the station event online. I picked up the food the day before. The food was delicious, and the people at the checkin, especially Coco was friendly and informative. I joined event online the next day, and it was fun to see the jazz band playing and all that. It will be nice to attend the event in-person. Thank you Yelp, Margaret, and Union Station Homeless Service!! read more

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Killed my brother who was on life support 18 times due to work trucking accident where diesel fuel destroyed 45 percent of lungs. Union station interviewed and for 19 months, I said 19 months told him a new Pomona Housing for Disabled had a place for him. The 3rd to last admit to hospital they were to pick him up for him to be housed. Newly made paralysis from Dr. keeping on ventilator too long so he could bill medical and medical services his organs were failing. The million dollar cap for insurance was reached. They were kicking him out. I called Union Station, told them he was ready for his pick up. I was referred to a supv. Who called to tell me they had given his promised home to another. That his income was over the amount allowed by 17 dollars. Really he pays $500 a month co pay for meds, 150 for oxygen, 200 for hospital bed, the nursing home he would have to pay $162 a day... What is going on.... Brother committed suicide 10 days after an amazing program got him an apt downtown. The People Concern got my brother a place after I explained how devastated my brother was after being told by Union Station he had nothing coming. Reduced to tears my big, talented artist stoic brother destroyed by lies and favoritism of Union Stations unfair business practices they allow violent, rapists to victimize women, allow filthy living conditions, have complete indifference to those too sick to help themselves after coming home from hospital, they allow other tenants full computer access to ALL client info to save a penny for themselves. Allowing tenants to set up cyber info in shared systems. Financials, medical, Dr. and other health info. In the Abode and Centennial Place management run computer. read more

Union Station Homeless Services - Brothers art before Union Station destroyed him. - Homeless Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I found out about this non-profit through their Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner-In-The-Park events. They serve hot meal to the homeless people in our community. It is absolutely an amazing events! I got to work with many people who have the same passion to give. Most important sharing holiday joys with people who are in need. This non-profit has started in 1973. They have done so many wonderful things helping homeless people. I attended their orientation and was so impressed with what they have achieved today. There are many volunteer opportunity. They have a great volunteer website system, it is very user friendly to sign up volunteer events. If you are interested in volunteering, this might be a place for you!! They have their own private parking lot so parking is never an issue. read more

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Two years ago, I headed a team of 15 amazing people who volunteered with me to help feed the homeless on Thanksgiving Day. We also did washed trays, picked up trash, and helped moved chairs and tables to get loaded up into trucks. Experiences like these are what keeps me from coming back every year to help out as much as possible. Doing these acts of kindness makes me feel happy that we are making an impact on other people's lives one person at a time! Continue to do great things Union Station Homeless Services! I will also do my part! read more

I came to this place the Irwindale place as a last resort.. not only did they lie about helping me with rent because I am struggling... they also ignored my calls and text multiple times when trying to get in contact about my home inspection. Now, I'm currently getting evicted. I don't recommend this place at all unless you wanna be lied to and hang up on. read more

Hats off to Katie B for finding a great organization for us to help out for the day. Yelpers showed up ready to volunteer and took care of business! Lots of hands were on deck all for a great cause. Helping out seriously is rewarding so find some time in your busy schedules to do some good for others. It's a win win for all! read more

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If not for their services during my temporary struggle, I don't think I would be very healthy right now AT ALL. SHOUT OUT TO BIG MIKE, BARBARA, LAWRENCE, DELIA, GIOVANNI AND RICO! YOU ARE ALL A HUGE PART OF MY HEALTHY TESTIMONY! You made me the strong young lady, recivilized, that I am today. I could never repay you for all of your support, faith, love and especially your EXPERIENCE STRENGTH AND HOPE. I love you ALL, each in your own special way.......... Missy read more

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I have been working with Union station for about a year now. I don't even no where to start with this review. 1st they put me in one of Pomona's worst motels called the passport. That ended when I walked into my room and there was a female sleeping in my bed. My worker at the time was even afraid when she came to visit me there. So then they send me to the stardust in Azusa which is a lot better then the 1st. It's my 11 year old son who when he was 3 had 1/3 of his brain removed due to AVM's that caused an aneurysm. so now I have my 2nd worker and let me tell you something she has not done anything at all for me. Literally. When we first moved here I had no income so i asked for a box of food and hygienes this was months ago. She tells me she ha has nothing at all but delivers them to her other clients repeatedly. Then about 2 weeks ago she says my hygienes are there. Guess what? Their still there because she never delivered them. I asked for food and I kid you not she never brought any. one of the very few times she visited me (I believe their supposed to visit once a week) I asked hehygienes so she says yes I have them we walk out to her car and she gives me a bag of hand sanitizer. No hygienes just sanitizer. I have begged and begged on how to get a voucher and she ignores me or lies to me. At one point she needed a paper signed from my son's neurosurgeon so she emails to me so I email it immediately to my son's neurosurgeon and he sends it right back also stating that stable housing will be so good for his condition. Now the reason this happened was because my 1st worker never signed me up for the EHV that ended in May. Well I kid you not this one da told me she advocated for me even tho the list was closed the lady would find a way to get it for me. She lied she lied she lied and that's all she goe does. now that I've complained about her my son and I are being put out on the 28th of November. I complained about her so their kicking me out. Can't go to the shelter because my son needs a controlled environment this lady supervisor lady is so rude telling me I got till 4pm to make up my mind after she just was so rude to me on phone so dang rude I left for a few hours and e back to a letter on my bed. When talking to her on phone I told her yeah this is because I complained about Beatrice Aguirre. she said it's not but it's common sense. she said my time has run out but the lady above me has been here for 4 years. I've begged for help and gotten none at all. I've had back procedures done and getting ready for serious back surgeries that will hopefully stop the 24/7 pain I live in and hopefully keep me s able to walk still and more I have to move. I've asked for a thrift store voucher to get clothes for my son. I HAVE EVERY SINGLE TEXT MESSAGE WE'VE SENT TO EACH OTHER. She knows my sons condition but I'm getting kicked out for complaining about her that's what it boils down to. Th at swear they have zero funding literally but I no they got an astronomical amount this year. This place is a fraud. Shame on them. They don't help at all. They need retraining because the only thing that they do is run the hours. We already feel bad about the situation we are in but to deny us basics that they are getting massive donations for and to deny us common courtesy you'd give to a stranger. So like I said I have every single text message. I've begged so many times and I shouldn't have to. Th is situation is so depressing and it's taken it's toll On Me. it's so bad and depressing here that 2 people have committed suicide here by hanging themselves in about 4 months. There's so much more to say bu.t I have to finish packing. I'll send every single t ext message with my next review read more

This place is possibly the worst, poorly run place ever. Being a now former client, I can actually attest to the fact that I have no idea how this place gets any funding. 1. The shelter for families is full of politics. If you don't suck up to the workers, you will be treated horribly. And the clients know it. There are several families that have been there well over the 6 month limit. Why? Because they know who to suck up to. There are people who have been there almost a year! 2. The other clients smoke weed on the property and nothing gets done. They are also abusive to other clients. For example, I have an allergy to perfumes, so the other clients spayed my bedding with perfume, causing me to choke and sneeze. 3. Some of the clients abuse their children by beating them with backpacks, threatening to beat them, slapping them. Staff does nothing. 4. They give you rotten food. 5. The housing help is laughable at best. They don't follow up with possible apts, and they contradict each other. read more

Union Station Homeless Services - Rotten orange - Homeless Shelters Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Feels damn good to give back. Grab a few friends with a spare couple of hours and offer up yourselves for a good cause. Union Station presents a great opportunity for this all year long, and the holiday season especially, so organize your do gooder group and hop to it. read more

Union Station provides homeless men, women, and children with housing, employment and life skills programs. On the day we give thanks for all of the great things in life, what better way to pay it forward than to spend a few hours of your time to show some love to those less fortunate? This past week, I volunteered to help serve food at their annual Thanksgiving Dinner in the park, which took place at Central Park in Old Town Pasadena. I was in awe at the amazing display of community; countless cars driving up curbside to drop off food platters and thousands of volunteers congregated in the park, ready and eager to participate. The hours listed on the website noted that the event would take place from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. I was psyched to see that you didn't have to reserve a spot and could just show up the day of to participate. This was the first time I was able to volunteer as a result. Most often, when I have looked up opportunities in the past, they were always full and not accepting additional volunteers. I showed up right at 10 a.m. and had to circle around the surrounding neighborhoods to finally find parking. Note: meters do not need to be fed if you park on major holidays such as Thanksgiving - just read the street signs and meter signs to be sure. I walked over to the park, waited in line to check in, and was given a sticker that assigned a duty and a line up letter/number. The turn out of volunteers makes it a bit difficult to know where you should line up in the volunteer staging area, but it's great that so many people came out to support. I finally found my line and ended up waiting for two hours before I was able to do anything. The dinner was scheduled to begin at 11:30 a.m. and ended up starting a little after 12 noon. The way it works out is that each line alternates and takes "x" amount of people in a group and lines them up at the food tables. You keep moving down until the line stops moving and whatever food item is in front of you is what you end up serving. You are given plastic gloves and you serve for about 20 minutes. Then, the next group of people come over and assemble in the same fashion behind you, tap you out, and then you're done. Depending on the number of people in front of you in your designated line in addition to the amount of volunteers that turn out, don't be surprised if you are waiting a minimum of 2 hours or more before any activity happens. I believe the people who are with the union station and perhaps some regular volunteers are busy setting up the food and still accepting more donations before they finally get the bulk of the volunteers involved. This is kind of a bummer because there is so much power in numbers that you wonder if they could improve the way this event is planned so that the volunteers could be utilized for more than just 20 minutes of the 2+ hours that you are simply waiting in line to help. Many of the people in line, myself included, got there early and as noon rolled by, I became hungry. Plus, most people come early thinking they could help for a few hours and still have plenty of time to make it to their families or whatever plans they have for later in the day. But with all the waiting, some people ended up having to leave prematurely without the opportunity to do what they came there to do. They really stress that they need the most volunteers around the hours of 1:30 p.m. through 4 p.m. to help with clean up and breaking down of tables and chairs. Food serving is the most popular volunteer activity and I think the most rewarding. I served salad, and I gotta say, even though I had to wait for 2 hours to serve for 20 minutes..it was one of the most rewarding 20 minutes I have experienced. Surprisingly, you serve a lot of people in that short time period, and just giving a smile and passing food on their plates, seeing them smile and express their gratitude was awesome. Next time, I think I will donate food as opposed to food serving because they can always use more food and you don't have to wait to contribute in this way. Perhaps they will figure out a way to improve the process so that volunteer efforts can be maximized by getting them involved as much as possible during the time they put in vs. down time and waiting around. They also have volunteer opportunities the day before and after Thanksgiving, and they do a similar dinner event on Christmas day and the day before/after as well. Toys can be donated for the children. Check out their website and get involved in some form (I recently updated the business info to include the website so the business info should be revised on the review shortly) - there are several ways for you to do something small that makes a big difference. read more

WHEN: Christmas Day WHERE: Central Park,Pasadena WHY: To give back to the community I don't know what to say about this organization other than UNORGANIZED. I signed up to feed the homeless a month prior to Christmas 2010. I was excited to be apart of such a great opportunity to give back to the community. You always hear of people who never giving back and being selfish during the holidays.. so this year i wanted to give back. I showed up 45 minutes before my shift started(as told to do so). I waited in line for a total of an hour before being told: " We don't need your help anymore, we have too many volunteers and not enough homeless people" Too many Volunteers? You had to sign up and be confirmed to work this event....didn't you know how many people were confirmed? Did you not market this event to the people in need? I saw a total of 10 HOMELESS PEOPLE! WTF? PLUS... the people who WERE eating(not volunteers)... where not even HOMELESS! I saw a tiffanys bracelet on some bitch AND some dude had a full-breed boston terrier..... helping the homeless MY ASS! SO Disappointing. OVERALL: I would never lend a helping hand to this organization again. You wasted my time as well as others time and you took away from other organizations who NEEDED help. Shame on you. read more

I checked out the Homeless shelter at the Union Station in Pasadena. There is a home-depot close by and of-course the train station. I come here often and see groups of transients all the time. Some sleeping on the pavement. Today I checked out the shelter. They provide all types of services, beds at night, apartments for families and food service with Food bank and soup kitchen. Well I decided to help them and they take all type of donations , cash and kind. You just drive over and drop your stuff even clothes and food items. Since the Union station provides 90 minutes free parking lot of the homeless vehicles were parked there. This is a great service and all of us should get involved. read more

i wanted to donate clothing and food, so I checked up Yelp and found the Union Station Homeless Shelter. I was advised that the shelter wouldn't take half my things, which includes hot cocoa, snack packs of cookies and chips, etc. Shelters, I was told, appreciate canned veggies (especially in bulk), canned produce, canned meats, hygiene products, dried pasta. I called ahead of time, and it seemed like Union Station would only accept my canned green beans, which was fine. But when I arrived, the woman at the desk was super appreciative of anything I would give. "We accept anything that comes from the heart," she said. Super sweet! The Union Shelter will accept food here for their clients, but clothing donations nee to be dropped off a couple miles away at the ACTS Thrift Store - Union Station runs out of room, so they have an agreement with the Thrift Store to accept donations there, so clients from the Union Station can go over there and get clothes. Union Station has a great, heartfelt vibe. I would love to go back and give! read more

Years ago, when I was more into community service and thought I could save the world I used to volunteer thanksgiving day during their annual Thanksgiving in the park. Well more or less try to volunteer, since there were so many people I wound up putting a couple forks on a table and not much else. So decided years after not volunteering to try it again, though I have honestly been wanting to go back for a couple years was either too bus or too lazy. So decided to do it again and saw that they needed more help on Wednesday than they do on thanksgiving.This was a very smart idea and also rewarding experience. So the only negative about volunteering or even visiting Union Station is that they have limited parking at the center and 2 hours on the street. But honestly this is a small price to pay volunteering is involved. So parked at the Union station train station near by. So I've never actually visited the building, but I was quite surprised it was rather clean and nice. There was a substantial amount of homeless around, but they pretty much kept to themselves and didnt pester the volunteers. Some even appeared to be volunteering and helping out as well. The people who worked there were rather nice and very thankful for our help, as we got to actually do alot of work, which I was very happy to do - hours of it in fact. They even served us lunch which I was not expecting. Overall I really enjoyed the experience and would totally volunteer again, especially on the day when they need more people. read more

Tried to set up a recurring donation on their website and it rejected my credit card three times. The website said that they were having problems, so call this number. I called the number and was confronted with a touch tone menu that gave no info on what number to press to give a donation. Their phone directory was no help either, and when I tried to go back to the main menu, it disconnected me. So I sent an email to their donation email address, asking someone to call me so I could start a monthly donation. Two weeks have passed and no one has phoned me. I will be donating to another organization instead. read more

Union Station does a lot more than just the Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners in the Park. It is true if you volunteer for these events, there will be lots of standing around and waiting around if you have no initiative, but if you really want to be involved, you simply go to the areas of the event that appear to need help and just jump in. Thanksgiving 2010 I was tasked with managing the food servers and the supplying and resupplying of the food at the tables. It also ended up that I had to manage the long food lines. I brought over 100 LA Foodies to this event and after the 1.5-2 hours of standing around for many/most of my member, once we started working the food service tables, it was great. Many of my members, keep busy by just jumping in on the food prep tables, others helped carry tables/chairs and set them up. Others moved out of our specific area and helped in the Children's area or other areas where they saw they could be of help. Was there too many volunteers? Absolutely, I'd estimate over 1,000 volunteers were not really needed. But... during the holidays, good people want to volunteer and do good. I heard the X-mas dinner was also way overstaffed with volunteers. Were all the diners homeless or in need? I'm sure lots of people were not, but there's no way to screen people. Hey buddy... is that Rolex real? C'mon... we can't turn people away cause they dressed nice. Also, the nicely dressed persons you saw could have been volunteers taking their meal break. Thanksgiving Day, I arrived there at 9:30am and could barely stand at around 2pm I needed to eat something and the volunteers are allowed to eat if they wish. I waited until there was no more waiting lines to eat and there was still tons of food and hundreds of pies untouched. What many do not know is that Union Station also feeds clients in need at their Family Center providing 120-200 meals 3x a day as well as at their Adult Center and providing another 50-60 meals 3x per day with their Adopt-A-Meal program. Volunteer groups will use their own money to pay for all the food and come into the kitchen and prepare and serve the clients. I volunteered the LA Foodies to provide a dinner every 3rd Thursday and each Volunteer contributes $10-15 to pay for the meal that we will prepare and serve. There's no standing around as we only have about 1.5 hours to cook and prepare the meal for service. That's not a whole lot of time, believe me! It is super hectic and it was all rush, rush, rush... and I think everyone also enjoyed it as I did! To me, it was a blast to cook in a real commercial kitchen for a whole lot of people and in a short amount of time. As Foodies we kicked out some delicious food, had a blast cooking for a bunch of people and the people really... I mean really appreciated our help. I had many people come up to me, some struggling with physical disabilities just to personally come up to me and to the others to personally thank us for the meal and to compliment us that the meal was delicious. I was deeply touched. This is year around volunteering and is really a great way to volunteer your time and donate a few bucks where you actually see and know where your money and time goes to. It's not just some place to mail a check to. BUT, if you'd like to mail a check somewhere, I say donate and support Union Station, I think it's an awesome 501(c)3 organization to help and your donations are tax deductible. No, I am not on staff of U.S., never have and have no financial interest in the organization. I am just an enthusiastic volunteer and supporter of them. read more

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To donate food there's an additional location: 412 S. Raymond Ave., Pasadena 91105 Easy drop off process, just buzz to get into the gated property. read more

Since the day I found out about this place in my home country it began to grow on me a why I would someday need the services provided by the teams and providers here at the union station this is a very good place to go ask for help that these wonderful staff are trained certified and professionally approachers on standby to help anyone who may need and that might be eligible for assistance I've been helped by these wonderful handful of personnel of this unit of helpers I got my prayers answered by doing my part in expressing the needs I asked for these beautiful people to be there when I needed them to be in life and death dyer need.got my housing and of the ruthless rough streets.thanks to this place of excellent service. read more

Worked with a nice group of volunteers today to serve lunch to about 30 folks in need. What a great experience! Tom, a staffer who oversees the kitchen, was very grateful to us for making a wonderful meal and for leaving the kitchen so clean. Very glad I had the opportunity to lend a hand and would welcome the chance to do it again ;-)) read more

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Donated ton of boxed lunches from a work event - they welcomed them with open arms. Maribel helped me unload - super sweet . Great work and much needed. Glad food didn't go to waste ! read more

I have to say, it was great to give back. Thanks to KB for organizing this event. I hope all goes well tomorrow in the Park. I was also great to see all the yelpers helping out there communities! read more

I have nothing short of saying that UNION STATION HOMELESS SERVICES had given me a home while waiting for housing , without them I'd of been lost , THANK YOU !! God Bless you BARBARA BURNS ...........Merry Christmas read more

Based on all the junk mail I receive, I wouldn't contribute this organization. I've never donated to them, I reside out of state, asked to be removed from there solicitations, and yet I still receive physical mail from them requesting money. read more

Merry Christmas to everyone at Union Station. It was a year ago that I was able to move into my apartment thanks to the services and dedicated staff at Union Station . My home was a beautiful gift and I'm still enjoying that wonderful blesssing. If you are seeking temporary resisence or long term,this is the place to be. Thank You. read more

This is the worst run homeless center I have ever seen. I just went there to see if they were serving dinner there today on christmas day.i was let in by a resident and told to talk to a employee.when I found one she was rude and very aggressive for no reason I asked her if they were serving Christmas dinner there. She told me No and asked me where did I hear that I told her I heard from a friend they serve holiday dinners there she said my friend was an idiot and so was I for listening to him. I walked away because I didn't want to say or do anything to make her mood any worse. I understand its Christmas day and she is working but that's her job don't take it out on people who just need information. I feel bad for the people who have to deal with on a daily basis. When I walked out of the premises she followed me to the street and started to talk on her walkie talkie. If you don't like your job do something else and let people who want to help do that job because it's clear you not good at it. read more