By Edmond Ortiz
A west San Antonio nonprofit and a local county commissioner are among local businesses, civic leaders and organizations looking to make sure that struggling area families do not spend Thanksgiving without a traditional turkey.
What you should know
A handful of local groups, companies and individuals are sponsoring free Thanksgiving meal giveaways while supplies last, while others are hosting food and resource drives as the holiday season kicks off.
The Avenida Guadalupe Association will give away hundreds of turkeys to families in need in the 78207 zip code on Nov. 19.
Select families will also receive non-perishable food items to pair with their turkey as part of the West Side association’s annual giveaway.
Interested residents living in 78207 may call (210) 223-3151 to reserve a turkey. The giveaway will take place 4-7 p.m. Nov. 19 at Progresso Hall, 1306 Guadalupe St.
Gabriel Velasquez, AGA’s president and CEO, said his organization aims to help address prevailing socioeconomic challenges, such as food insecurity, a problem that he said has been exacerbated locally by the recent federal government shutdown, which disrupted food assistance programs such as SNAP.
“For many of our families, the holidays bring difficult choices between paying bills and putting a full meal on the table,” Velasquez said in a statement. “Our annual turkey giveaway is more than just food distribution; it’s a commitment to preserve the dignity and joy of the holiday season for our neighbors. We are proud to continue this tradition of giving back and lifting up the community that is the heart of San Antonio.”
According to a news release, Avenida Guadalupe’s turkey giveaway is made possible by organizational staff and volunteers, who work to ensure efficiency and safety for all attendees, as well as local partners and donors, such as Woodforest National Bank, BE&SCO Manufacturing, Sammis|Ochoa, Wright Home Services, and Leadhub. AGA is accepting donations to benefit its turkey giveaway.
Also of note
*Bexar County Pct. 4 Commissioner Tommy Calvert is again partnering with the Deputy Sheriff’s Association of Bexar County and their charitable arm, ACT DSABC, to provide a free Thanksgiving meal to local families in need.
Calvert’s giveaway will be held 1-3 p.m. Nov. 22 at the Frost Bank Center, where he and his team will hand out more than 300 turkeys and bags of potatoes. It is a first come, first served event, with no registration requirement.
Attendees may enter parking lot No. 7, Gate C, to receive their turkey. For more information, call (210) 223-2213 or email info@dsabc.org.
Cesar E. Chavez Legacy and Educational Foundation will hold the 16th Thanksgiving in the Barrio event 9 a.m.-noon Nov. 22 at the Immaculate Concepcion Church hall, 314 Merida St. Founded by CECLEF’s late founder, Jaime P. Martinez, the event will provide Thanksgiving turkeys and accompanying food items to more than 1,000 West Side families. The foundation is accepting donations to support the event.
*Frontline Heroes Outdoors and Mercy Chefs will offer a free meal distribution Nov. 22 for area families who are still feeling repercussions of the federal shutdown. Distribution begins at 1 p.m. at Cavender Buick GMC West, 7400 W. Loop 1604 N., while supplies last.
*Catalano’s Pizzeria, 102 N. Main St. in Cibolo, will host a holiday toy 4-8 p.m. Nov. 26. Attendees are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to local young families in need. The event will double as a birthday celebration for owner Carl Catalano.
*The 46th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner will be held on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 27. The dinner, which is free and open to individuals in need, takes place at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, 900 E. Market St.
The doors open at 9 a.m. and an all-faith worship service begins at 10 a.m., followed by food service, entertainment, dancing, and children’s activities until 3:30 p.m. Event representatives are accepting donations to benefit the Jimenez Thanksgiving dinner.
People interested in donating may text “GIVE” to 866-379-0285 or visit www.rauljimenezdinner.com/donate for details. The list for home delivery is full, but VIA Metropolitan Transit will offer free bus rides to and from the dinner.
