LOS ANGELES (Nov. 27, 2024) — This Thanksgiving, thousands of critically ill Angelenos will enjoy nourishing meals thanks in part to Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), who volunteered at Project Angel Food’s temporary kitchen in Lincoln Heights on Wednesday. His efforts highlighted the profound impact volunteerism can have, especially for Project Angel Food’s clients, who face life-threatening illnesses every day.

“I want to thank each and every member of the Project Angel Food team for their unwavering commitment — not just during the holiday season, but every single day of the year,” said Senator Alex Padilla. “Today, we celebrate not only the incredible volunteers who understand the profound impact of medically tailored meals, but the spirit of service that brings us together. I’m glad to volunteer alongside family today to show our love through service and share this moment with dedicated members of our community.”

Padilla was joined by his family, staff members and Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub, as they chopped, scooped and packaged thousands of medically tailored meals. During his visit, the senator toured the facility, greeted staff and volunteers, and addressed those in the kitchen. He emphasized the importance of serving our communities and reaffirmed his commitment to the organization’s mission of delivering hope and nourishment. Project Angel Food prepares more than 1.5 million meals annually for more than 5,200 individuals across Los Angeles County.

Ayoub remarked, “It's one thing to speak about serving our vulnerable neighbors, but another to act on it — like Sen. Padilla and his family did today. By involving his wife and sons, he showed that Project Angel Food is truly a family. Watching him roll up his sleeves to help prepare our medically tailored meals was both inspiring and a powerful testament to his unwavering advocacy for our mission.”

The senator and his family made a lasting impact, demonstrating the power of collective action when volunteers unite for a meaningful cause.‍

About Project Angel Food

Project Angel Food nourishes the health and spirit of people facing critical and life-threatening illnesses by preparing and delivering medically tailored meals with love, care and dignity. Since 1989, Project Angel Food has provided over 18 million meals to critically ill individuals across Los Angeles County. As a leader in the Food is Medicine movement, the organization tirelessly advocates for the national expansion of medically tailored meals, ensuring that everyone battling illness receives the nutrition they need. Currently, Project Angel Food serves more than 1.5 million medically tailored meals each year to 5,272 individuals.

Currently, Project Angel Food is temporarily preparing and packing meals at our Lincoln Heights facility while construction is underway to build The Chuck Lorre Family Foundation Campus, which will double the size of our facilities. Once completed, this state-of-the-art campus will allow us to prepare and deliver three times as many meals, meeting the needs of the growing number of seriously ill people throughout Los Angeles County. Each year, more than 3,446 volunteers dedicate 40,812 hours to Project Angel Food — equivalent to the efforts of 22 full-time employees — ensuring that no one faces illness alone.‍

About Sen. Alex Padilla

Sen. Alex Padilla, a progressive problem-solver, is the first Latino elected to represent California in the U.S. Senate. The son of immigrants, Padilla grew up in the San Fernando Valley and studied Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was drawn to politics in response to California’s anti-immigrant Proposition 187. Padilla was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 1999 and the State Senate in 2006. As California’s Secretary of State, he oversaw a historic expansion of voting rights and voter participation. As United States Senator, Padilla has taken action to cut costs for families, combat the climate crisis, and help thousands of Californians secure millions of dollars owed to them by federal agencies. Padilla lives in the San Fernando Valley with his wife, Angela, and their three sons, Roman, Alex and Diego.