With Thanksgiving and other holidays coming up, preparing for family gatherings, making or buying meals for families big or small can be stressful and tedious. In and around Pueblo city limits there are many restaurants, businesses, and organizations that are more than willing to help. With a little help from the community, the holidays are sure to be another successful one for all Pueblo residents.

A Place to Find a Meal

The Pueblo Community Soup Kitchen, located on 422 W 7th St., will serve a pre-Thanksgiving dinner the day before the holiday on Wednesday, Nov. 27, starting at 10 a.m. The meal will include turkey, mashed potatoes, dressing (stuffing), a variety of vegetables, a dinner roll, and dessert.

Food Assistance and Drives Located in Pueblo

• Pueblo West Parks and Recreation is partnering with local schools to provide Thanksgiving baskets to families in need. The basket will provide various essential food items, and all a family needs to do to be added to the list is to contact their school counselor.
• Cooperative Care, located on 326 W 8th St., will be giving out turkeys from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. while supplies last on to Monday, Nov. 25.
• Harley Davidson, located on 5001 N Elizabeth St., will be hosting their second annual Pueblo Turkey Giveaway from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Tuesday, Nov. 26.
• One-Way Street Ministry will be serving Thanksgiving Meals on Nov. 30, at the weekly Sunday outreach. They can be found near the intersection of E Fourth St. and N Fountain Ave. at 3 p.m.

Food Pantries

• RMSER Food Pantry and NeighborhoodWorks Colorado, located at 330 Lake Ave., Door 3, are partnering to provide holiday meals for families Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. while supplies last.
• The Salvation Army, located on 401 S Prairie Ave., offers a free food pantry to those in need, with food box distribution happening each week on Tuesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Senior Resource Development Agency 230 N Union Ave., gathers meals for Senior Citizens as well as transportation, medicare workshops, and other aid needed throughout the day.

Contributing Donations

United Way of Pueblo County, is hosting Thanksgiving food drives, which include dropoff location of:

• Mary Jane’s Glass Harberdasher, located on 1865 S Pueblo Blvd., 1626 US Hwy 50 West, and 204 W 29th St. Drop off hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
• Terry’s Natural Market, located on 1865 S Pueblo Blvd, 1626 US Hwy 50 West, and 204 W 29th St. Drop off hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
• Parks Office at 340 E Hahn’s Peak Ave. Drop off hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

What to Donate

• Canned goods such as vegetables, cranberry sauce, soup, peanut butter, gravy, pie filling, or stuffing.
• Cornbread mix, instant mashed potatoes, boxed gravy mix, pie crusts, sugar, flour, or other baking staples.

Where to Volunteer

You can volunteer for various organizations, which include the following:

• The Pueblo YMCA, located on 3200 E Spaulding Ave., will host the 17th annual Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday Nov. 27, presented by Black Hills Energy. This 5K run, helps support members of the community seeking resources, providing scholarships and financial assistance for local families in need.
• The Salvation Army of Pueblo, located on 401 S Prairie Ave., is looking for volunteers, especially during the holiday season. You can sign up to volunteer by visiting their website.
• The Pueblo Community Soup Kitchen, located on 422 W 7th St., is accepting volunteers to help distribute meals to members of the community seeking resources. They recommend contacting their director Kathy Kline, at 719-545-6540 for volunteer opportunities.

Thanksgiving can be a stressful holiday, but with the help of local organizations, you can breathe a little easier. From food assistance to volunteer opportunities, the Pueblo community is showing its support. Whether you’re looking for a place to find a meal, or a chance to give back, there is something for everyone.