Project Angel Food CEO Richard Ayoub, left, welcomed Sen. Alex Padilla and his family to help with Thanksgiving preparations. (photo by Rance Collins)

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) stopped by Project Angel Food Nov. 27 to kick off the nonprofit’s Thanksgiving drive. The organization, which provides medically tailored meals to people in need, is particularly busy each November as it works to ensure every client has a healthy, festive holiday.

“I grew up with a lot of community service. That’s how my parents raised us,” Padilla said.

Padilla is a Los Angeles County native, having grown up in Pacoima and graduating from San Fernando High School. For many years he served on the Los Angeles City Council and in the State Senate’s 20th district. Prior to becoming a U.S. senator, he was California secretary of state.

Padilla brought his wife Angela and one of his sons, Diego, along to help put together meals at Project Angel Food’s temporary Lincoln Heights kitchen. The organization is currently constructing a new expanded facility in Hollywood.

“It’s an opportunity to raise our kids with this awareness. We have our challenges, but relatively speaking, we’re very, very blessed to help – whether it’s a neighbor, whether it’s a stranger. If we can help make somebody else’s life just a little bit easier, especially during the holidays, we’re happy to,” he said.

In recent weeks, the work of nonprofits like Project Angel Food has come under scrutiny. On Nov. 21, the United States House of Representatives narrowly voted in favor of the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act, which could give the U.S. Treasury Department sweeping power to remove tax-exempt status from any organization deemed to be supportive of terrorism. Democratic opponents have argued that the incoming Donald J. Trump administration could use the act to go after political enemies.

“That’s why we have two chambers – checks and balances to make sure that, while some members of the House may want to politicize every vote [and] politically attack organizations – more regional divides in the Senate will protect the good causes and the good uses of taxpayer funding,” Padilla said.

He pointed out the long history Project Angel Food had as a powerful humanitarian force in Los Angeles, noting that the very first government grant provided by FEMA to the organization was presented by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) in 1993.

“If we can look at the multiple ways that Project Angel Food is helping communities — whether it’s addressing food insecurity … whether it’s providing medically strategic food that keeps people healthy, then we’re reducing health care costs. Imagine that – bringing down health care costs in America. This is an innovative and successful way to do it. I hope my colleagues in Washington will pay attention to this program and others like it,” Padilla said.

He added that if his colleagues would observe the work of Project Angel Food, they might return next week to Congress with a reminder of the purpose of public service.

“Yes, we have different ideas. We have different philosophies, maybe different priorities based on your district [and] based on the state that you represent, but at the end of the day, we’re in public service to try to improve lives,” Padilla said.

He said the organization’s mission was in lock step with the city that raised him.

“Project Angel Food is the spirit of Los Angeles,” he explained. “We’re not just a big, spectacular city in America. We’re from the most diverse city in America, from all aspects … racially diverse, economically diverse, ethnically diverse – but people come together on a daily basis, whether it’s people working side by side, playing little league baseball side by side, volunteering side by side, to help our neighbors. That is the spirit of Los Angeles as I know it.”

Project Angel Food will have numerous celebrities on hand Thanksgiving Day to help prepare and deliver meals, including “Weird Al” Yankovic, Jai Rodriguez, Mary McCormack, Charlie Wood, Natalie Morales, Mark McGrath and Loni Love. For information, visit angelfood.org.