Hundreds expected to share a humble multi-cultural turkey meal in McAllen Respite Center at the Sacred Heart Church on Wednesday
Texas Border Business
Generosity is inspiring as four McAllen entities can pull together to elevate both truth and cause. IBC Bank, Koko’s restaurant, Kumori, Taco Palenque and The Board of the Valley Baptist Foundation pulled together seamlessly and without a blink to provide a Thanksgiving meal today Wednesday and hopefully leftovers Thursday to the refugees and volunteers at Sacred Heart Respite Center. Traditional Mexican appetizers will be followed by Turkey and trimmings and Kumori’s famous Japanese style meat and rice and then pumpkin pies.
“Gratitude that most of us express formally for Thanksgiving is what we live and hear each day for 27 months now from our refugee families” explained Sister Norma Pimentel. “I want our community and our nation to know that the gratefulness is on-going from our refugee guests to our supporters and for our 100’s of volunteers and private supporters. We also appreciate our partnership with the border patrol. Gratitude is truly a principal we see throughout scriptures from Jesus and it is lived and demonstrated daily in McAllen.
“IBC employees are at the heart of this charitable meal”- explained Dora Brown, “. once we mentioned this idea, it was an immediate response of yes!
Sister Norma explains that local businesses are the just in time Angels in tough times. Certain days and refugee spikes are hard to anticipate. We have companies and individuals pay for 80 pizzas on days when we run out of soup. The last 3 months have been unpredictable yet the generosity of the Valley people seems un-ending.
The Respite center has accomplished safe haven and rest for more than 50,000 mostly as survivors from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala to include 50,000 changes of new and donated clothing, 50,000 showers using 50,000 laundered towels, 50,000 snacks for the bus journey to US family and 50,000 bus tickets reconciled and organized as part of their journey which then will conclude with an immigration hearing.
“Most of us count our blessings at Thanksgiving, our refugees are thankful to escape with their Lives” noted a somber Sister Norma. Photos and video by Roberto Hugo Gonzalez Texas Border Business.
Related video:
IBC Bank & Koko’s restaurant joined forces to feed more than 400 South American Refugees
