Friends In Deed

Please help us welcome Jason Ellis back to the team!

Jason previously interned with Street Outreach and Housing, and we’re proud to have him back as a full-time Housing Navigator.

Drop a 👋 in the comments to say hello!

🎀 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

This year, an estimated 382,640 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

When diagnosed at a localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is over 99%.

Early detection saves lives. Please get screened. 💗

🔗 Learn more at nationalbreastcancer.org

All stats courtesy of the National Breast Cancer Foundation

Thanks to your incredible generosity, we raised over $17,000 through our Cooking for a Cause Crowdfunding Challenge. Every cent supports our Food Pantry and the over 700 households that receive groceries from us weekly.

Full plates. Full hearts. Indeed!

The solutions exist. They're already working. So what is Pasadena waiting for? 💚

In his latest opinion piece for Pasadena Now, Rabbi Joshua Levine Grater makes a powerful case: while our city continues to study the problem of unsheltered homelessness, neighboring communities are building innovative, cost-effective housing, faster and more affordably than ever before, and getting people off the streets.

From 3D-printed homes in San Luis Obispo to tiny home villages in San Jose, the roadmap is right there. Rabbi Joshua lays it all out, and calls on Pasadena's leaders to stop researching the problem and start implementing the solutions.

🔗 Read the full piece here: https://pasadenanow.com/main/guest-opinion-rabbi-joshua-levine-grater-neighboring-cities-have-found-solutions-to-solving-unsheltered-homelessness

Share it if it moves you. 🙏

Congratulations to Ian Williams, the champion of the 4th Annual Cooking for a Cause! Competing solo, Ian knocked it out of the park with an entrée of chicken schnitzel, steamed Brussels sprouts with maple syrup, and mashed potatoes with a chicken stock gravy. Bravo, Ian!

And a huge thank you to all our incredible contestants. Their ingenuity, creativity, and passion for cooking made it difficult for our judges to reach a conclusion.

Team 1: Daryl and Jasmin
Entrée: Deconstructed rice and beans with grilled marinated chicken thighs, steamed herb rice, and zucchini
Dessert: Deconstructed peach cobbler with brown butter and pastry cream

Team 2: Irene and Jasmine
Appetizer: Vietnamese-inspired potato pancakes topped with shredded chicken marinated in fish sauce and chili, and a Brussels sprout slaw
Entrée: Traditional Hungarian chicken soup with vegetables

What a night! Thank you to everyone who joined us last night–those who purchased tickets, sponsored the event, donated to our crowdfunding challenge, or watched the event. Your support helps us keep the Food Pantry shelves stocked for the over 700 households that visit us every week.

Needless to say, Cooking for a Cause and your generosity leave our community with full plates and all of us with full hearts. Thank you!

Thank you to all who have donated to our crowdfunding challenge. We've reached the $8,000 milestone! Can't wait to see what the night brings.

If you haven't donated yet, now is the time! Visit https://givebutter.com/CFAC2026 or click on the link in our bio.

Our guests are arriving. The competitors are preparing. And the mood is joyous! Cooking for a Cause starts in 20 minutes. We can’t wait to see what our teams cook up with pantry staples and ingredients sourced for our Food Pantry. Join in the fun by contributing to our crowdfunding challenge or watching the livestream on YouTube. Links in bio!

Tune in to the Cooking for a Cause competition on YouTube! We’re livestreaming the entire event, starting at 6:00 p.m. tonight.

Watch in real time as our chef teams duke it out in the Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery kitchen, turning pantry staples and “mystery ingredients” sourced directly from our Food Pantry into masterpieces – all to raise awareness of food insecurity and funding for Friends In Deed’s important program.

Who will be crowned the winner this year? You don’t want to miss this!!!

🔗 https://www.youtube.com/live/AZx2SDIiWgI?si=-s1CWg9WpdMkK6-O