Thanksgiving is still nine days away, but two local organizations have just days to plan and prepare holiday feasts for upward of 5,000 homeless and economically-challenged individuals and families in Tucson.
For the second consecutive year, with the support of Portable Practical Educational Preparation and the Promotoras (Community Health Advisors), the Community Thanksgiving Meal & Promotora Program will serve residents of Armory Park and surrounding neighborhoods from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Nov. 21, at Armory Park Center, 221 S. Sixth Ave.
The event, which also features a resource fair showcasing 20 social service agencies and nonprofits, served about 1,200 people last year. Coordinator Mary Ornelas said the numbers are expected to double this year since โThanksgiving in the Barrio,โ a tradition for nearly 20 years at the El Pueblo Neighborhood Center, has been cancelled.
โWhen we heard that Thanksgiving in the Barrio was not happening, we thought, โUh-oh, get ready.โ But last year the Promotoras did an awesome job and the event turned out really well. The only thing lacking was gift baskets of food for people to take home, so we would like to be able to provide those this year,โโ said Ornelas.
The meal was the sole holiday feast for those served, of which about 75 percent were homeless, according to volunteer coordinator Maria Carrasco.
In addition to turkeys, grocery gift cards and monetary donations are needed as soon as possible since the cooking begins on Saturday. Volunteers are also needed to assist with preparing food Saturday and to help at the feast, where guests are served at tables.
Overall, the entire effort is a community endeavor that symbolizes the spirit of Thanksgiving and volunteers are richly rewarded, said Carrasco.
โIt is lots of work but it is very beautiful to be able to give instead of getting something. This is all about community and the kind of community we want to have: This is what community looks like,โ she said.
Gospel Rescue Mission
Community is also the operative word at the 28th Annual Thanksgiving Street Banquet staged Wednesday, Nov. 23, by the Gospel Rescue Mission.
The event served about 3,000 people last year on the closed-off street at 338 W. 28th St.
โThis is one of our three largest events of the year and the fact that we serve so many gives you an idea of how important it is to the community. For many of our neighbors, this will be their holiday meal,โ said Victor Hightower, public relations and outreach coordinator for Gospel Rescue Mission.
The event offers not only food and entertainment, but also free hygiene items, clothing, socks, and other services.
Canned vegetables, canned fruit and coffee are top priorities for the feast since a generous community partner has provided Thanksgiving turkeys, according to Hightower. However, 300 turkeys are still needed to serve the 3,000 people expected to attend the Christmas Street Banquet from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 21.
Donations of grocery gift cards or money (which can be made at www.grmtucson.com/) are good options for those who don’t want to shop. Hightower said that 87 cents of each dollar donated to the nonprofit are funneled toward services, which range from emergency shelters for men, women and women with children to assistance with food, household items and other necessities along with addiction recovery, life redirection programs and case management.
