At a previous milestone event in 2014, Salzer (center, cutting cake) was congratulated at his Pasadena United Hot Meals Program's Villa Parke anniversary.
Robin Salzer, owner of Robin’s Woodfire BBQ and founder of the Pasadena Hot Meal Program that provides free hot meals for low-income and homeless residents, is gearing up to celebrate having served 110,000 hot meals to hungry people in the community since the project’s inception in 2010.
“There’s people that need help and our goal is to help them. I truly believe that most people are looking for a hand up, not a hand out. That’s our opportunity to help make Pasadena a better city than it was before we got here,” said Salzer.
What started as a simple vision to help neighbors in need eventually blossomed into a weekly where between 100 and 200 hungry individuals on average are served balanced hot meals at the Jackie Robinson Community Center.
“It’s truly a rainbow coalition of community. I think the beauty of it is that it’s at a community center. Anybody and everybody is welcome,” said Salzer.
The Hot Meal Program evolved from collaboration between Robin and another Pasadena businessman Walter Jackson, who spent years visiting stranger’s homes as a locksmith and a volunteer delivering meals to homebound.
Salzer was inspired to see this project through after visiting homes of residents when campaigning in his bid to become a District 1 City Councilmember. Although his run was unsuccessful, his experience ultimately led to to the Hot Meals Program.
Some would invite him into their homes to talk, usually the kitchen, and in offering him something to drink Robin observed that refrigerators of some of the residents were poorly stocked.
“I just knew there was a need,” said Salzer. “I truly believe that in a city like Pasadena that arguably has more restaurants per capita than any city in the United States it is unconscionable that any resident should go hungry—ever,” said Salzer about the city’s 560 plus restaurants.
He realized that his continual reinvestment in the community over the years had been reciprocated by local residents, businesses and organizations. They had in fact helped sustain Robin’s Woodfire BBQ throughout the years when he weathered severe up’s and down’s of running the restaurant.
“The commitment of people supporting me over the years has really motivated me to pay it forward—to give back to the community,” said Salzer. “If you can improve the quality of life for somebody even but one day, you’re a better person for it, you’re a better neighborhood for it and we’re a better city for it,” said Salzer.
Salzer invests his personal resources and says the program also receives help thanks to strong relationships with the Rose Bowl’s main concession supplier Sodexo Magic in addition to Restaurant Depot.
“We always try to provide a balanced meal,” explained Salzer. “We will take donated food and overruns any time.”
In 2015, The Pasadena Hot Meal Program celebrated its 5th year with 100,000 hot meals served. The new milestone of 110,000 meals served just a year later is a testament to community collaboration, according to Salzer.
“If you think about it, for the last six years we could have put a hot meal at every seat of the Rose Bowl—and had many thousands left over,” said Salzer.
Approximately twenty youth volunteers dedicated their time every Wednesday.
“The government alone can’t solve the problems of homelessness and hunger. I truly believe that a committed collaboration of city, civic and business leaders can take on that problem and solve any problem that’s set before them. That’s what we do at the community center. It’s all volunteers,” said Salzer.
Mayor Terry Tornek and other City and civic leaders are expected to attend the special celebration Wednesday donning aprons and serving those in need.
“It’s an opportunity for people in the community who depend on their elected city and civic leaders officials to talk to them. I encourage our elected officials to sit down and break bread and have a meal with the community. It’s a great opportunity to shake hands, touch souls and to look into the hearts of both people,” said Salzer. “It’s a nice role reversal.”
The public is invited to attend, volunteer and celebrate the The Pasadena Hot Meal Program’s 110,000 free hot meal served on Wednesday from 4:45 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Jackie Robinson Community Center located at 1020 N. Fair Oaks Ave.
