First published in the May 19 print issue of the Pasadena Outlook.
Friends In Deed just concluded its 34th straight year of providing shelter for the unhoused community in Pasadena.
Due to pandemic restrictions, the normal overnight winter shelter could not be offered, so Friends In Deed provided motel stays to the most vulnerable members of the community on bad-weather nights.
Additionally, it distributed winter clothes, rain gear, blankets, food and water every week at the First United Methodist Church.
None of this could have been accomplished without the generous support of community partners coming together for a common cause. First United Methodist Church not only provided the location to coordinate hotel guests, but also the space to store and distribute more than $10,000 worth of clothes and supplies.
The lion’s share of the donations was provided by the S. Mark Taper Foundation’s Shelter Resource Bank, but Full Circle Thrift Store, local churches and many individuals also generously donated.
Also, Azusa Pacific University’s nursing school students provided health care information and washed clients’ weary feet and hands every week. The city of Pasadena’s department of housing funded the motel stays and staffing support.
“We would like to recognize the tremendous contributions of Dial-A-Ride,” said Lindsey Reed, director of the Bad Weather Shelter. ”They provided, at no cost to our clients, transportation from the church to local hotels. This included helping the elderly, frail and wheelchair-bound (and their belongings) on and off the bus in the rain or cold.”
Reed added, “We also would like to give a shout-out to all the local hotels that stepped up their services to accommodate our guests: Hotel Le Rêve, La Casa Inn, Lincoln Motel and the Pasada Motel. Friends In Deed is so grateful to have so much support in providing such a basic need to our unhoused friends.”
