Thousands of Brownsville residents got together Wednesday for the 30th annual and season’s first H-E-B Feast of Sharing at the Amigoland Events Center, complete with live music and all the things that make a community gathering special in Texas.
The menu was a little different than in years past — Texas-style barbecue with sides of charro beans and potato salad, topped off with fresh pumpkin pie — as H-E-B expected to welcome as many as 5,000 to the free community meal.
In addition to live music, the event included community services like free flu shots administered by H-E-B pharmacy partners. A partnership between H-E-B and Brownsville Metro provided free transportation to the event to ensure that everyone who wanted to got to attend.
Martha Gonzalez from Big Heroes was among the many volunteers who helped pull off the large gathering. The agency
works with disabled young adults once they graduate from high school. “We’re very honored to be here at the Feast of Sharing,” she said, accompanied by volunteers Vanessa, Esmeralda and Thomas.
Volunteers moved throughout the ballroom distributing meals, deserts and drinks from large trays held by two people at once.
“I’m always thankful for what H-E-B does for our community,” District One City Commissioner Nurith Galonsky, who volunteered at the event, said. “They’re a true community partner and it’s wonderful to see people out again to get together to enjoy this event. Clearly everyone is smiling from ear to ear because it’s all great. So thank you H-E-B for bringing us all together.”
Estudiantina Centinela from Veterans Memorial Early College High School tuned up in the foyer as they waited their turn to perform, mandolin player Seth Flores joining Ashley Robledo and others to get just the right sound. Aide de Anda directs the group.
Brownsville resident Francisco Gamez said this was the first time he’s come to a Feast of Sharing meal. The food was great, he and his friend Oscar Ruiz from Brownsville agreed.
Launched in 1989, H-E-B’s Feast of Sharing regularly serves more than 340,000 meals annually in 34 cities throughout Texas and Mexico. Over the more than three decades H-E-B has held the celebrations, more than 375,000 volunteers have helped serve more than four million meals. The initiative is an important part of H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program, which works year-round to prevent hunger in the more than 300 communities H-E-B serves.
