Everything you need to know about the Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner
Thousands of plates of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and pie will be doled out Thursday at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center at the 44th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner.
The free festivities are an institution in the San Antonio community. Whether you’re a regular every year, a first-time attendee or someone looking to get involved, here’s what you need to know about the event:
When and where
The Jimenez dinner takes place on Thanksgiving at the Convention Center at 900 E. Market St. Doors open at 9 a.m., and an all-faith worship service will be held at 10 a.m. Food, music and dancing run from 10:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. Meal deliveries for people who are unable to attend the event will be provided for people who request them. The deadline for delivery requests was Friday.
How it started
Restaurateur Raul Jimenez founded the event in 1979, looking to serve a holiday meal for older residents who were alone and couldn’t afford to make a Thanksgiving dinner for themselves. It has since grown to reach about 25,000 people each year. Jimenez died in 1998, but his family kept the tradition alive. The dinner paused in 2020 and 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, with organizers pivoting to solely home delivery, but the communal gathering returned to the Convention Center in 2022. Patricia Jimenez, the founder’s daughter, said she expects an even larger turnout this year.
How to get there
VIA Metropolitan Transit will provide free bus rides for seniors to and from the event. When they board the bus, passengers who are 55 and older should tell the driver they are attending the Jimenez dinner and show a VIA senior ID card or other identification with proof of their age to receive a free trip. Viatrans clients also can receive free transportation to and from the Convention Center.
How to get involved
It takes about 3,500 to 4,000 volunteers to make the dinner happen each year. All those positions already have been filled for the 2023 dinner. Signups to volunteer opened Nov. 3, and were full by Nov. 6. If you’re looking to help out, keep an eye out for sign-ups next fall.
The dinner is made possible by donations, from both individuals and corporate sponsors. That’s especially true over the past two years with the increase in food costs, Patricia Jimenez said. Donations to the dinner can be made online or by mail.
Information is available at the organization’s website, rauljimenezdinner.com.