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Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez hands a turkey to a meal recipient. NEWS-GAZETTE PHOTO/BRIAN MCBRIDE -
A line of vehicles wait behind Kissimmee City Hall to get Thanksgiving meals. NEWS-GAZETTE PHOTO/BRIAN MCBRIDE
Like many others, it’s been a tough time for Kissimmee resident Elisa Hernandez.
She was just one of many who waited in line in her vehicle to receive a Thanksgiving meal on Nov. 18 behind Kissimmee City Hall. The city, for the eighth year, again partnered with Sedano’s supermarket to hand out turkeys and Thanksgiving fixings to those in need.
Elisa was grateful to receive a meal because she knows many people are struggling these days to put food on the table.
“We don’t have any help,” she said. “This is going to help a lot. We are going to have something to celebrate the day of Thanksgiving.”
A total of 150 families were pre-registered through the help of nonprofits including the Osceola Council on Aging, Community Help Center, Embrace Families and Help Now to receive the holiday meals.
Deputy City Manager Desiree Matthews was at the event, working to check off all the families that were registered.
“We know there are a lot of families who are struggling right now. We know the economy is not in the best shape,” Matthews said. “We have a lot of families that are unemployed and a lot of families that are experiencing these needs for the first time.”
Kissimmee city officials and city commissioners worked the line of vehicles as they each pulled up, placing the bags of food into the trunks or handing them to residents.
For Kissimmee Mayor Olga Gonzalez, this is not her first year working the giveaway. But she knew this year the need was much more great due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It feels great,” she said being able to help. “Now it’s even better because of what’s going on – the loss of jobs. This is a time that is very much needed.”
Besides the turkey, residents also received food such as yams, yucca, peas and rice. It was enough to feed a family of four, said Sedano’s General Manager Anael Hernandez.
“It’s really good because we are a part of the community, and being part of the community, we feel obligated to help the community,” he said. “Helping the community means a lot to us.”
