Walking Together in Recovery: Christ the Shepherd and Altadena Meals on Wheels

In the months following the Eaton Fire, recovery has taken many forms. One of those forms arrives each weekday at the front doors of older adults and neighbors facing mobility challenges: a nourishing meal, a friendly face, and a reminder that they are not alone.

Recently, Altadena Meals on Wheels (AMOW) highlighted the remarkable support it has received from community partners, including Christ the Shepherd Lutheran Church in Altadena. Following the fire, Christ the Shepherd opened its community hall to serve as a meal distribution hub, providing a space where volunteers could gather, organize, and continue serving some of the community's most vulnerable residents.

The partnership helped AMOW relaunch its meal delivery program in June 2025 after the fire temporarily disrupted operations. What began with deliveries to just 12 households has grown into service for more than 40 households throughout Altadena.

This ministry of care has also been strengthened through disaster response support. Lutheran Disaster Response recently awarded a $50,000 grant to Altadena Meals on Wheels, with the Southwest California Synod contributing an additional $4,000 to help sustain this vital work.

Altadena Meals on Wheels serves adults age 60 and older who are homebound, living with disabilities, or facing health and mobility challenges that make shopping and meal preparation difficult. For many recipients, these meals are not simply food—they are an essential source of nourishment, connection, and dignity.

We give thanks for Christ the Shepherd's continued witness in the community and for all who are helping ensure that our neighbors most impacted by disaster are not forgotten. Together, we continue to embody God's call to accompany one another through hardship and toward healing.

Read the AMOW newsletter HERE where this is highlighted.