Hundreds fed in Farmington and Aztec, community fills need on Thanksgiving
Hundreds of residents in Farmington and Aztec received warm Thanksgiving meals on December 1, as volunteers, city staff and nonprofit partners served large community dinners that addressed food insecurity and social isolation. The events showcased local capacity to mobilize donated food, volunteer labor and civic space ahead of an expected larger winter demand for meals.
On Thanksgiving Day community volunteers and local organizations served large meals at the Farmington Civic Center and the Aztec Senior Community Center, providing a focal point for residents facing food insecurity and social isolation. The Salvation Army’s Community Dinner aimed to serve at least 800 meals, while the Aztec senior center reported serving 475 people between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Logistics underscored the scale of the operation. Turkeys for the Salvation Army dinner were collected at the Safeway in Farmington, delivered to Si Senor Restaurant for roasting, and then deboned by Corps officer Christopher Rockwell, volunteer recruiter Jennifer Reeves and about 14 volunteers the day before the event. At the Civic Center Rockwell and Reeves managed greeting and volunteer coordination at the door. At the Aztec Senior Community Center director Connie Hutcheson baked 35 turkeys and supervisor Erikka Martinez reported a turnout that the organizers described as a "mix with a lot of new people they’ve never seen before."
Regional nonprofit leadership placed the local dinners in a broader fundraising and service context. Eric Schoen, regional development director for The Salvation Army in New Mexico, noted the season of Red Kettle bell ringing and associated events across seven corps offices in the state. He described the meals as intended to reach people who cannot afford or prepare holiday food, saying "We want them to be thankful and feel inclusive." He also recounted one donor who arrived at Safeway with two turkeys, telling volunteers "I love you guys," and that she "drove an hour and a half to bring these to you." The donor described how the Salvation Army helped her when she was living in her car, saying "You guys saw me, took me in, gave me clothes, food, a nice place to sleep, and got me back on my feet," and "I’ll never forget you for that."
For San Juan County the events reveal a persistent local need and a volunteer network capable of rapid mobilization. The numbers served and the use of donated and prepared food points to a cost efficient model that depends on donated goods, restaurant partnerships and volunteer labor. Organizers also signaled continued demand into the holidays, with Hutcheson saying they expect about 500 people at the center’s Christmas dinner. For policy makers and funders the gatherings are a reminder that supporting meal programs, senior center operations and sustained nonprofit fundraising is essential to meet rising seasonal needs and strengthen community resilience.
