Nonprofit group in Pueblo feeds about a thousand on Christmas

People in Pueblo have a full stomach Thursday after packing the Union Depot for the annual Christmas meal.

Melissa Sandoval and her family are among those who enjoyed the ham, beans and dessert the meal had to offer.

Sandoval’s family waited to eat in a long line that went out the depot doors.

She said without this meal, her family would be hungry on Christmas.

“It would be very sad because we wouldn’t have a place to go,” Sandoval said.

The event almost didn’t happen since the regular host, the Pueblo Rescue Mission, decided to stop because of a lack of resources.

POSADA decided to take the reins and continue the more than 20 year tradition of the meal because it was important for people in Pueblo.

“There are families here that would not eat without this meal today, and we didn’t want to leave them hungry,” Anne Stattelman said. She is the executive director of POSADA.

One of those families not going hungry on Christmas are the Sandovals.

POSADA said it hasn’t decided if it wants to host next year’s Christmas meal.