Local organizations celebrate the spirit of giving
While many of us await a feast full of turkey, gravy, potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce and more, others struggle to find solid meals on a daily basis, let alone for a holiday where food is, in many households, the central focus.
Thanks to the help of local organizations, however, those in need of warm food and the giving spirit are in luck, as Taos continues to step up and provide food for those most vulnerable during this time of year.
Longstanding organizations committed to helping the indigent and elder populations have stepped up in years past to make sure everyone feels included during the holidays, and this year is no exception.
Thursday (Nov. 18), St. James Food Pantry gave away approximately 680 turkeys and bags of food to 347 cars. David Hines, manager of the St. James Food Pantry said last week’s Thanksgiving meal efforts saw “the highest turnout of volunteers that we’ve had for the entire year.” Forty-four volunteers helped out over the course of the day.
Hines made clear this was just one way of helping people to feel more connected in their community. “It’s about more than food. I mean, food is obviously the way that the service is rendered, but what we’re actually doing is we’re trying to give people hope,” he said.
Shared Table Food Pantry, based out of El Pueblito Methodist Church in El Prado is also going the extra mile to provide food for elders in need of a warm meal. Pastor and Shared Table Director Cheri Lyon said she has been working with Taos Elders and Neighbors Together as well as Taos Ski Valley to provide between 24 and 30 hot meals to be delivered on Thanksgiving Day.
Lyon said elders most in need have been identified and hot meals will be delivered by volunteers on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 25) around 1 p.m.
“It lets them know they’re seen and valued,” said Lyon of the importance of providing community meals to those in need. “Through the sharing of the meal they’re able to be connected with the rest of the community. I primarily see it as a way of saying ‘you may not be able to get out of your home much, but we know you’re there. We value you. We care.’ And so that’s what we’re doing.”
Pastors Erasto and Teddie Zarasua also planned a large community Thanksgiving meal, free and open to anyone. On Tuesday evening (Nov. 23), several hundred people were expected for the seventh annual dinner planned by the Zarasuas. “In the past we’ve served between 550 to 600. I was thinking this year it might be less, but as I’m talking to people in the community, there’s a lot of people that are in need,” said Teddie Zarasua before the event.
She explained the community dinner was born out of her husband’s commitment to helping others. “The Lord put it in my husband’s heart to do this seven years ago,” she said. After talking with other churches who were willing to help with the food, they were up and running.
The Zarasuas planned to serve approximately 14 turkeys and 10 hams, and community members brought food like mashed potatoes. “It’s just an amazing feeling to be able to bless other people because we’ve been so blessed,” said Zarasua.
The Taos Men’s Shelter will also be holding their annual Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday (Nov. 25) at 3 p.m., welcome to anyone, regardless of gender or housing situation. “It’s for anybody who needs it. We have families come, and the guys are welcome to invite their friends or family if they’d like,” said Staff Manager Rick Wilkinson.
Thanks to a partnership with Super Save Discount Foods, the Men’s Shelter will be receiving five pre-cooked turkeys with sides. Wilkinson did say, however, they were looking for dessert donations. He said the turnout is usually between 20 and 30 people. “We usually have a pretty good time,” he said.
While local organizations and food pantries are helping with Thanksgiving, Taos Feeds Taos already has their sights set on Christmas, and has begun registering people in need of a holiday meal.
Now in its 36th year, Taos Feeds Taos has long been an example of a community coming together to help each other. “We have a really good board that puts together to make it happen, and the whole community has been coming together to help other people,” said president Francis Córdova.
This year, Taos Feeds Taos will be giving out $100 vouchers, up from $75 the previous year. On Dec. 16 and 17, they will have opening ceremonies in front of Super Save on Paseo del Pueblo Sur, where people will be able to pick up their vouchers and begin shopping.
Córdova explained the donations come from Super Save, Kit Carson Electric Co-op, the LOR Foundation, Chevron, and more. “It’s really a community working together to make this happen. Everything’s working for the better, and we’ll be able to have enough for this year,” he said.
Córdova said being able to help others in need is a good feeling. “An old lady came up to us and said ‘If it weren’t for Taos Feeds Taos, I wouldn’t be able to give my grandkids presents, I’d have to spend it on food’,” he said. “That feels great.”