CORNING — Backing up Interstate 5 for a short while, families waited in line Thursday at Rolling Hills Casino to grab a free Thanksgiving style dinner, during a food distribution event by the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians.
Now on its fourth year, the distribution event has served several thousand free meals, and this year set up more than 1,500 families with green beans, canned corn, cranberry sauce, bread and a choice of a whole chicken or turkey.
Second in line, Terry Cambell said he drove down from Redding for the giveaway and waited in his car with Foxy and Coco, his dogs.
“I think this is an awesome thing what they’re doing for people; for those not able to have a holiday or can’t get what they need,” Campbell said.
Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation Coordinator Vanessa Alvarez said the Paskenta Band of Nomlaki Indians and its foundation saw an increase in food insecurity during COVID-19 lockdowns and began the distribution event in 2020.
“We wanted to give back and we found that we could help during the holiday season if we give out holiday meals; all the essentials to make one,” Alvarez said.
Alvarez said that in the past they’ve received calls months later thanking them for the meals.
In addition to 1,500 meals distributed Thursday afternoon, Alvarez said 200 meals were given to Corning Rotary, Corning Dignity Health, Corning High School Homeless and Foster Youth and North Valley Harm Reduction Coalition.
Loree Ramirez, waiting just a few cars from the front, said she returned again this year to take advantage of the free Thanksgiving offer.
Ramirez said she’ll be spending Thanksgiving at her house with her family; and that she’s thankful for being alive.
Ramirez said there are many places that usually offer free turkeys in Corning, but didn’t see any this year other than this event.
“If it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t have Thanksgiving,” Ramirez said.
As the event began, cars lined up and happily accepted bags of food from tribal members.
“All of us here, we’re all tribal members and we’re all family,” said Natasha Magana, treasurer for Paskenta Nomlaki Foundation.
“We’re blessed, and we want to make sure we can bless others in these hard economic times. As long as we can help others … for our tribe, it gives us great pleasure to do that,” Magana said.
