Home-Style Dining Ywca Serves Special Holiday Meal Where Homeless Can Eat As Family

Angie Vallejo, 7, marched over to the serving line and knew exactly what she wanted.

“Pickles. Olives. A roll. And lots of turkey,” Vallejo said, smiling as she pointed to her favorite foods. “I wish I could eat turkey all the time.”

Vallejo was one of about 60 homeless kids and their parents who showed up for a special pre-Thanksgiving Day dinner Wednesday night at the YWCA.

The YWCA serves dinners every Wednesday for children and families in transition, but this year, organizers wanted to offer something bigger.

“We wanted this to be a home-cooked meal,” said Teri Lynch, activities coordinator for the YWCA. “There was going to be no boxed mashed potatoes for this one.”

Most of the kids don’t often get a chance to enjoy a meal with their families, Lynch said.

That’s why this Thanksgiving was so important for 11-year-old Michael Carell. He helped mash potatoes in the kitchen while he waited for his family to arrive.

“I’m thankful because I have my mom,” Carell said. “I get to sit with my family this time.”

He usually sits alone during Wednesday night meals.

Serving started at 5 p.m. sharp. But by 4:30 p.m., the kids started lining up. On the menu: Five turkeys, a few hams, and all of the trimmings.

Most of the children wanted a little bit of everything. But some kids partake only in certain foods.

“This is the greatest day because I get to eat pumpkin pie,” said 10-year-old Ross Brown, driving a plastic white fork into his fourth slice. Brown was determined to scarf down 10 slices by the end of the meal. And that’s all he had for dinner.

When asked what she was thankful for, Vallejo poked a finger towards the sky.

“For God because God loves kids and kids love God,” Vallejo said.

Others, like Sanjuana Luna, 29, one of about 10 kitchen helpers, have other reasons to be thankful.

Luna and her three children moved to Spokane from Texas about two months ago, fleeing an abusive relationship. Now in a shelter, Luna is grateful for the help she’s received from the YWCA.

“All the good places like this, to me that’s what Thanksgiving is about,” Luna said as she served up thick slices of ham. “I’m just glad I can be here with my kids. A lot of mothers work or just don’t come.”

Glenna Poblete, 36, was one of about a dozen parents who came to the dinner. She and her four children are especially thankful this year. Four months ago, they bought a home.

“If I didn’t have a home, I’d be out on the streets,” said Eddie Poblete, 10.

“We’ve been there before,” Glenna Poblete said, choking back tears. “I remember that time. I just had to look at my kids and say, ‘Hold your head up.”’

Eddie and his siblings have held their heads up. They’re not ashamed to admit they’ve been homeless and hungry.

Not everyone who came was in transition.

Rayna Girtz, 17, volunteers with kids in the transition school. Girtz is a student at Mead Alternative School, which donated canned foods for the event.

“I start thinking a lot when I come here,” Girtz said. “It makes me take less for granted.”

Various groups and individuals contributed to the event.

For most who came to the YWCA Wednesday night, the meal was a chance to remember what’s important.

“Hold onto your family when things are getting hard,” Poblete said. “Sometimes that’s all you have.”

The YWCA is looking for donations for future dinners. For information, call the YWCA at 326-1190.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color photo