More than a thousand people served free meals in Pueblo for Thanksgiving

It’s an event that attracts hungry people each year to Pueblo.

The annual Thanksgiving Community Meal was Thursday at the Union Depot.

Even though most people say the Thanksgiving dinner is the most important meal of the year, for Denise Gutierrez, Thanksgiving is a time to give back.

“I have a lot of blessings and a big void in my life right,” she said.

Gutierrez said her husband passed away last month because of stomach cancer. She said he promised to volunteer at the meal this year, but her kids are helping start a new tradition by volunteering their time to help others in need for the annual meal.

“They can see how blessed they really are,” she said.

More than a thousand people were served free meals this year for the annual event.

“For many people folks that are coming here today, this is there one meal of the day that they get,” organizer Jerry Carter said.

Robert Arellano almost missed the meal.

“I went to the hospital. I had stomach surgery, it was rough, but I dealt with it,” he said.

Arellano said he never misses the Thanksgiving meal event.

“I am determined to make it,” he said.

More than 100 volunteers helped in this year’s event.