Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center will host a free Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner on Saturday, Nov. 15, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The meal is open to veterans and their families and will be held at the center, 911 Robinson Ave., Trinidad. Organizers are asking attendees to register by phone because seating is limited, and additional details are available through the Mt. Carmel event calendar online.

The dinner aims to provide both a holiday meal and a gathering space for veterans in Las Animas County, where social and logistical barriers can make it difficult for some families to access community events. By offering the meal at no cost, the center reduces financial pressure on households and creates a focal point for neighbors, volunteers, and service providers to connect with veterans who may benefit from additional support.

Mt. Carmel Wellness & Community Center, a local nonprofit that runs wellness and community programs in Trinidad, is coordinating the event. Hosting a veterans-focused dinner at a central community facility helps concentrate volunteer effort and donated resources, creating efficiencies that reduce per-person costs and expand reach beyond immediate family networks. For rural counties like Las Animas, single-location events such as this can serve multiple functions: nourishment, companionship, and an entry point to information about health, benefits, and local services.

The timing—on the Saturday before Thanksgiving—matches a period when many veterans and their families may otherwise struggle to arrange travel or meals. For local economies, community meals rely on donations and volunteer labor rather than commercial spending, but they still have modest local economic impacts: purchases of food, supplies, and services often come from nearby businesses and vendors, and volunteer-driven events strengthen social capital that supports longer-term community resilience.

Residents planning to attend should register by phone as soon as possible to secure seating. The Mt. Carmel event calendar lists the dinner and provides logistical details. Those who cannot attend but wish to support the initiative can contact Mt. Carmel to inquire about volunteer opportunities, donations, or partnerships that help sustain similar programs throughout the year.

By bringing veterans and families together in a local, familiar setting, the Thanksgiving dinner aims to reinforce community ties at a time of year when connection matters. The event underscores how small-scale, targeted efforts can reduce isolation and provide practical support in Las Animas County.