Thanksgiving meals offered by metro-area organizations

Homeless and/or poor can enjoy a holiday meal

With Thanksgiving almost here and a slight winter chill in the air, a number of organizations have stepped up to provide Albuquerque’s homeless and poor with free meals leading up to and including the national holiday on Thursday.

“The combination of the holidays and the cold weather make this a particularly stressful time for the homeless, who are away from family — sometimes permanently,” said pastor Danny Whatley, executive director at The Rock at Noon Day. “If not for the shelters and the church groups, these folks would simply do without.”

Finding a holiday meal on

Thanksgiving day is made more difficult for the homeless and poor, Whatley said, because the vast majority of them do not have cars and the city shuts down its bus service.

“Without transportation, they have to walk from place to place,” which for many can be an arduous task. Consequently, he said, some simply decide to remain in place in their campsites or wherever they find shelter, “and they just go hungry.”

For those needing a hot Thanksgiving meal today and in the upcoming days, here is a list of places that will be welcoming them: Today:

11 a.m. to 1 p.m., The Rock at Noon Day, 2400 Second Street NW, is partnering with Steelbridge Ministries to provide a complete Thanksgiving meal. Wednesday:

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Joy Junction’s Annual Thanksgiving Feast, Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd Street NW Thursday:

8:30-9:30 a.m., annual Thanksgiving morning brunch, Good Shepherd Center, 218 Iron SW.

9:45-10:45 a.m., Thanksgiving meal at HopeWorks, 1201 Third Street NW

10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thanksgiving meal at Salvation Army Temple, 501 Broadway SE (Broadway and Lead)

10:15 a.m. to 2 p.m., St. Felix Pantry serving at the McDonald’s restaurant, 1390 Rio Rancho Blvd. (NM 528 just south of Southern) in Rio Rancho

11 a.m. to 2 p.m., La Mesa Feast of Hope, La Mesa Presbyterian Church, 7401 Copper NE (north of Central, east of Louisiana). Clothing will be given out starting at 10 a.m.

2-4 p.m., Thanksgiving dinner at Joy Junction, 4500 Second Street SW

MARLA BROSE/JOURNAL Volunteers and community leaders, including Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, bottom left, serve a Thanksgiving meal to needy people last year at McDonald’s.