By Joel Langton
The 830 Times
The menu was tweaked from a traditional Thanksgiving meal to a more traditional Texas Thanksgiving meal, but no matter what it was labeled, 4,500 people got a free holiday meal at H-E-B’s annual Feast of Sharing Saturday.
The program had been quiet for the last two years, thanks to COVID concerns, but H-E-B still served holiday meals throughout the community and made donations to local food banks, said Eldridge Villarreal, local Top Store Leader.
Saturday’s event was the 30th time Del Rio had held a Feast of Sharing in some form and people said they’d missed getting together.
“I’m thrilled it’s back,” said Rosa Soto, who was sitting at a table for eight with friends and family. “This is always a great event and it’s nice for it to be back.”
Pumping out 4,500 meals in a four-hour window takes hundreds of volunteers and experience, something H-E-B has plenty of as they’ve churned out more than four million Thanksgiving meals at cities throughout Texas, said Audrey Treviño, H-E-B Public Affairs.
While the majority of the meals were eaten by those who took a seat in the Civic Center, H-E-B coordinated with a number of agencies to have meals delivered to those unable to get out of their homes.
Villarreal said the program was more than a feel-good program to build good will by feeding everyone. It had a deeper purpose. “This initiative is an important part of H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program, which works year round to prevent hunger in more than 300 communities.”
While the volunteers worked hard getting plates of brisket, sausage, beans, potato salad, a roll and a slice of pumpkin pie in front of guests, the opposite end of the Civic Center was entertaining guests after they’d eaten.
Linda Corbell and Claudia Cruz Lopez had an entertainment line up that featured the San Felipe Del Rio CISD All-District Elementary Choir, Sapphires, Del Rio Middle School Dancing Queens, Isabel Castillo, Rocia Guerrero, Del Rio High School Dance Company, and Toxic Cheer. The Casa de la Cultura wrapped up the day’s entertainment.
H-E-B was also providing free flu shots as well.
“This is a chance for us to bring our community together,” said Villarreal. “H-E-B works hard to be involved in every part of our community, and we’re proud of the role Feast of Sharing plays here.”
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Contact the author at joelalangton@gmail.com
