Unity in the community

Thousands of people filled the Texas Southmost College Jacob Brown Auditorium to receive a free meal during the annual H-E-B Feast of Sharing, while others danced and ate popcorn in the courtyard outside.

Over 7,300 Thanksgiving meals were served at the event, which consisted of turkey, green beans, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, a bread roll and pumpkin pie.

For entertainment, there was a mariachi band and DJ music.

The feast, which launched in 1989, is a “a series of festive gatherings that include more than 250,000 meals served during 33 dinners throughout Texas and Mexico,” according to the H-E-B website. “Filled with food, music, and good cheer, these free holiday feasts bring together family, friends and neighbors, and provides H-E-B an opportunity to give thanks to its loyal customers.”

Yvonne Loflin, H-E-B’s senior public affairs specialist for the border region, said she has been a part of the event for over five years.

“I love being a part of the H-E-B Feast of Sharing family,” she said. “It’s very endearing to my heart. Doing what we do every day is an exceptional job.”

Loflin said it takes a whole day to set up for the event but it is possible with the help of partners. During the event, she oversees the stage presentation, media, anything that has to do with the logistics of the event.

Asked how the event compared to last year, Loflin replied they are always blessed with a great turnout from the community. She believes they have grown this year and there was a longer line than usual.

“You know, we’re happy to see our Brownsville gente just happy today, smiles, enjoying … with their families with their kids, just doing everything they love to do as a family.”

Asked why an event like Feast of Sharing is important, Loflin replied it is important to give back to the community.

“Because in reality, there are so many that are blessed but so many that don’t have this opportunity, so we wanted to bring them together,” she said. “We wanted them to know that they’re loved this time of year, especially during the holiday season.”

Loflin said it is important to share because it is all about giving to those who don’t have a lot.

“Today just reminds me how blessed we are but more than anything how it feels to work for an amazing company like H-E-B that does this,” she said.

Inside the venue, the laughter of children could be heard as families chatted and people met other attendees while enjoying their meals. Walking around, faces smiled at strangers and volunteers rushed to provide meals and drinks.

Meanwhile, H-E-B pharmacists administered free flu shots in a room next to the auditorium lobby.

Out in the courtyard, a small crowd gathered to watch as couples, kids and people danced to cumbia music while the DJ encouraged the crowd to join.

Maria Mancha and Mark Treviño attended the event as volunteers for Geo Reentry Services.

“We’ve been doing this for about 20 years, so, we come here every year to help them serve a dinner in this community, the elderly people that can’t afford to have a Thanksgiving meal,” Mancha said.

Treviño said it is great for the community to get together for the event.

“It shows the camaraderie among the city itself and it’s a pleasure to serve the community,” he said.

Mancha said the event is important because it helps people who are homeless that do not have the means to have a Thanksgiving meal.

“It’s just great to give back to the community and it’s good to show the younger ones that are growing up the purpose of serving and being out there in the community because this is our area,” Treviño said. “This is where we live. This is where we grew up and it’s great to give back.”

Daniel Rodriguez, a volunteer, said he decided to volunteer out of the kindness of his heart.

“Despite what your background is, what your ethnicity is, or, like, wherever you come from, you have the potential within yourself to help out the community that’s going to give you back one day,” Rodriguez said.

He said it is important to volunteer because it is something to think about in the future.

“You’re going to feel so warm inside,” Rodriguez said. “You’re going to want to help out even more and from there we start growing from one another. If we help this person out, they might help you out later on in life and then, volunteering is the best thing for someone to do because you’re not getting paid, you’re just doing it out of your own time and why not? It’s just love.”