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Our First Event: 86 Meals Served at Union Station

April 6, 2026 · Seed to Serve LA Team

On April 4, 2026, Seed to Serve LA served its very first meal — and it was everything we hoped it would be.

Eight volunteers came together at Union Station Homeless Services Family Center in Pasadena to cook, plate, and serve 86 meals to families living in unstable housing — people who have a roof over their heads but no kitchen to cook in.

Seed to Serve LA volunteers preparing meals in the kitchen

The Menu

We kept it simple, fresh, and made from scratch — no seed oils, no shortcuts.

  • Beef kefta — ground beef seasoned with cumin, paprika, cinnamon, fresh parsley, and cilantro, shaped and baked until golden
  • Basmati rice — fluffy, buttery, perfectly seasoned
  • Fresh tabbouleh salad — bright, herby, loaded with parsley, tomatoes, and bulgur
Plated beef kefta with basmati rice and grilled vegetables Fresh tabbouleh salad in a bowl

The Day

Union Station provided us with their commercial kitchen and serving space, and our team got to work. Fresh produce washed, herbs chopped, kefta shaped and baked, rice steamed, tabbouleh mixed — all by hand, all with care.

Fresh lemons, tomatoes, and herbs ready for prep Full volunteer team working assembly-line style in the kitchen

People came back for seconds. We made extra meals and left them for Sunday so families would have something wholesome ready the next day too — 86 meals total from a single event.

Two Seed to Serve LA volunteers in the kitchen

Watch the Recap

Thank You

A huge thank you to Union Station Homeless Services for welcoming us into their Family Center and trusting us to serve their community. This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long partnership.

What’s Next

We’re already planning our next event. If you want to be part of it — whether that’s volunteering your time in the kitchen, donating to fund the ingredients, or just spreading the word — we’d love to have you.

Sign up to volunteer or make a donation to help us keep going.

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