Mexican Christmas brings hundreds to Union Depot

Pueblo’s Mexican twist on Christmas dinner was a crowd favorite at Union Depot, where more than 1,000 people were fed.

“The tamales, the green chile, the enchiladas. It was all great,” said Puebloan Julian Rosales.

But those who came for a meal didn’t just find comfort in the food.

“There’s some people in the world that they feel like they’re left out, but when they come here they can feel like they’re not left out,” said 10-year-old Cali Janes.

Rosales said, “For the first time I found myself alone. I just recently put my mother in a nursing home.”

Jerry Carter, who coordinated the dinner, said some of the people who donated food for the dinner did so without wanting any recognition.

“Last night we had a woman who called about 10 minutes before we left the depot setting up, donated 850 biscochitos, 850 sugar cookies,” he said. Carter said the woman did it to honor her grandmother, who recently passed away.

Other volunteers kept busy behind the scenes in the kitchen.

“I’ve been cooking and reheating and getting everything prepped to go out on the serving floor,” said Andrew Maull, who lives in Pueblo.

Carter said in addition to the meals served at Union Depot, 300 meals were also delivered to a local soup kitchen.