FARMINGTON – Call for more turkey, corn and mashed potatoes from volunteers after they cooked meals at the Salvation Army’s annual Thanksgiving lunch.
The Salvation Army has partnered with People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) to offer parishioners Thanksgiving food at Sycamore Park Community Center on November 25th.
“We have not made any restrictions or anything like that. We want people to come and just be a part of it. It’s a celebration of this fellowship, this Four Corners area, ”said Lt. Christopher Rockwell, the Corps Rescue Officer at Army Farmington Corps.
In a large room off the kitchen, Jacque Payne checked the takeaway food containers to make sure everyone had servings of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes with brown sauce, corn, cranberry sauce, and a croissant.
Payne is volunteering for lunch for the first time. She joined her son, daughter-in-law, and granddaughters to serve food and wait for parishioners.
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“I am grateful that we can help people who are less fortunate to have a good, hot meal,” she said.
This was the third time Elijah Miera had supervised volunteers in the kitchen.
“Cooking is my superpower,” said Miera. “We give them good food.”
While lunch helped parishioners celebrate the holiday, it also reminds residents that the Salvation Army is still present in Farmington.
Rockwell said when the Farmington Salvation Army thrift store closed in October, some believed the organization had left the area.
That is far from the truth, he said, adding that the Salvation Army continues to operate and fulfill its mission.
“We’re first and foremost a church outside a thrift store, and we want to make sure everyone knows we have a ministry here where we can help people,” Rockwell said.
The volunteers were in prep mode all week. Turkeys were collected on November 18 by the T’s for Turkeys, a project between iHeartMedia stations and the Salvation Army Farmington Corps. 57 turkeys were purchased at the event.
The town of Farmington offered the community center as a food service and takeaway space.
“It’s very important because people may not be able to get this food physically, emotionally, and spiritually,” said Rockwell when asked how important lunch is to the community.
Those who ate their meals on site in the gym sat at tables decorated in autumn and listened to the Christmas music.
“It’s encouraging. It shows community, ”said Amanda Lobato, PATH executive director, of the number of volunteers.
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Lunch is an event held by the Salvation Army Farmington Corps during the holiday season. The Rote Kessel campaign is running in various branches and the Engelbaum program starts in December, helping children to give away Christmas presents.
Noel Lyn Smith reports on the Navajo Nation for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4636 or by email at [email protected].
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