Trinidad Hosts Veterans Dinner, Smithsonian Exhibit and Community Events

Community groups in Trinidad convened several events in early and mid November that highlighted local support for veterans, cultural outreach, family programming, and ongoing volunteer activities. The third annual Veterans Thanksgiving Dinner took place on Saturday, November 15 at Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center, offering a free meal in the Garden Room at 911 Robinson Avenue for area veterans and their families. The dinner, organized by a local wellness and community center, sought to reduce social isolation and food insecurity among veterans while recognizing their service.

Also on November 15 the Bloom Mansion hosted the opening of the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Americans. The opening day programming began at 10 a.m., with an opening speech by Fred Mosqueda Sr. of the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribe delivered in the History Classroom at 312 East Main Street at 11 a.m. The presentation included a short video and a question and answer session, followed by a second viewing of the exhibit. Museum admission was free throughout the opening day, and organizers asked visitors to RSVP online.

Family oriented offerings were part of the local schedule as well. A two day Family Holiday Craft workshop at the Champion Center required participants to attend both sessions on November 8 and November 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in order to complete handmade greeting cards created from paper participants made themselves. Registration was required and space was limited, and the champion center encouraged residents to call 719 856 4838 to register.

Weekly volunteer and community meetups continued to bring residents together through outdoor activity. Wednesday rides gathered each week at 5 30 p.m. at the Cimino Park fountain area, with wheels up around 6 p.m. Organizers provide weekly details to participants and the rides serve as a low cost way for locals to stay active and build social connections.

These small scale but consequential events illustrate how community institutions in Las Animas County fill gaps in services that larger systems often miss. Free meals and museum access reduce economic barriers to participation, while programming that centers Indigenous perspectives advances cultural inclusion. For veterans, social meals like the Mt. Carmel dinner address both immediate needs and the longer term mental health risks associated with isolation and limited local supports.

Sustaining these efforts depends on local volunteerism, stable funding, and partnerships across nonprofit, cultural, and health sectors. For residents interested in participating or supporting these programs, the Mt. Carmel Wellness and Community Center advised calling 719 845 4877 for more information about the veterans dinner. For craft registration call 719 856 4838 and for museum RSVP details refer to the Bloom Mansion notice. As winter approaches, these gatherings offer practical assistance and social connection that are essential for community resilience in rural southeastern Colorado.