Joy Junction in Albuquerque gave back for Thanksgiving by hosting a festival for the needy. For 35 years, the faith-based nonprofit church organization has served as a haven for men, women and children who have been forced onto the streets. “My family, we have it all and I know these people don’t,” said Jay Benton, a volunteer at Joy Junction. “Giving a little of my time to help them is nothing.” Benton is a first volunteer at Joy Junction. He said he wanted to give back to his own community on a day known for gratitude. He added that despite the ongoing fighting people face during the coronavirus pandemic, many guests enjoy a warm meal and good company on Thursday afternoon and are grateful to have something to eat today, “Benton said . For other people, Thanksgiving Day means being grateful for what you have, no matter how little Junction said you were homeless for five years. He didn’t want to give his name. “It was tough because if you haven’t been there you really don’t know what it is like,” he said. He added that he lost his job in 2015 and then jumped between homeless shelters in Albuquerque. After years of fighting for a home, he arrived at Joy Junction. He’s been at the shelter for over a year now, completing programs and endlessly devoting himself to his Christian faith. “I took this time to think about my own life and just wonder how I got here in the first place,” he said. He said he had made a change of perspective, both mentally and physically. He is now looking forward to better days like visiting loved ones and returning to his passion for weaving. “You might be visiting my family in Portland, Oregon,” he said. “My mother, my brother, my nieces up there. I haven’t seen her in about five years. ”Joy Junction also had a food truck that delivered Thanksgiving food in Duke City on Thursday afternoons. The service looks after up to 350 people per night, including 60 to 80 children every day. To learn more about their mission and how you can help, visit their website here.
ALBUQUERQUE, NM –
Joy Junction in Albuquerque gave back for the Thanksgiving holiday by providing a feast for the needy.
For 35 years, the religious, non-profit church association has served as a refuge for men, women and children who were forced onto the streets.
“My family, we have it all, and I know these people don’t,” said Jay Benton, a volunteer at Joy Junction. “Giving a little of my time to help them is nothing.”
Benton is a first volunteer at Joy Junction. He said he wanted to give back to his own community on a day known for gratitude.
He added that despite the ongoing difficulties people face during the coronavirus pandemic, many guests enjoyed a warm meal and good company on Thursday afternoon.
“They are just grateful that this is being done. They are grateful that they have something to eat today,” said Benton.
For other people, Thanksgiving Day means being grateful for what you have, no matter how little.
A Joy Junction resident said he was homeless for five years.
He didn’t want to give his name.
“It was tough because if you haven’t been there you really don’t know what it is like,” he said.
He added that he lost his job in 2015 and then jumped between homeless shelters in Albuquerque.
After years of struggling to find a home, he arrived at Joy Junction.
He’s been at the shelter for over a year now, completing programs and devoting endless time to his Christian faith.
“I took this time to think about my own life and wonder how I got here in the first place,” he said.
Since then, he said, he has had a change of perspective, both mentally and physically.
He is now looking forward to better days, like visiting loved ones and returning to his passion, weaving.
“You might be visiting my family in Portland, Oregon,” he said. “My mother, my brother, my nieces [are] up there. I haven’t seen her in about five years. “
Joy Junction also had a food truck that delivered Thanksgiving meals in Duke City on Thursday afternoons.
The service serves up to 350 people per night, including 60 to 80 children daily.
To learn more about their mission and how you can help, visit their website here.
Comments are closed.