Thanksgiving Table at Renee's

Former LJ Principle arrested on theft charge

Thousands of dollars taken in home invasion

Healthcare goes mobile

City approves bond sale

Thanksgiving Table at Renee’s
Mission business shares blessings with others

Thanksgiving is a day many of us associate with a large feast of turkey, mashed potatoes, biscuits and pumpkin pie. More importantly, it’s a day we give thanks and spend time with family and friends. It’s a day of celebration, joy, love and for most of us, watching the Dallas Cowboys.

However, there are many families who are unable to have a Thanksgiving meal. So, some have decided to help those less fortunate by opening their doors and sharing their Thanksgiving with others.

Renee’s of Sharyland, for the fourth year in a row, hosted a Thanksgiving Table for anyone unable to provide a warm turkey dinner for their family. The event was free, but ticketed and took place on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26 at Renee’s of Sharyland. Tomas Tijerina and his wife, Renee Martin, are owners of Renee’s and hold the event every year because they want to share their blessings.

“My wife and I grew up going to church and we still go,” said Tijerina. “Proverbs 22:9 says, ‘the generous man will be blessed, for he shares his food with the poor.’ We count our blessings. We have been blessed incredibly. We have a healthy family, a great life and a strong business.”

The idea for the Thanksgiving Table at Renee’s was born five years ago when Tijerina and Martin were in Anaheim, California. They stumbled across a restaurant, Café de Garcia, a day before Thanksgiving, and witnessed an extraordinary hustle and bustle. The couple inquired what was happening, and the owner responded with they were preparing for Thanksgiving dinner. The local news later reported that the restaurant had served 12,000 people who otherwise were unable to have a turkey dinner. Tijerina was completely inspired.

“We got onto the airplane to return home and my wife looked at me and said, ‘You want to do something like that don’t you?’” said Tijerina. “We came home and held the first one in 2006 and served 700 people. The second year served 1,100 and last year 1,500. This year we were hoping to serve 1,800.”

Getting ready for the Thanksgiving Table event, Tijerina says it’s a year worth of preparation. He does admit that it’s gotten easier and they have been able to better estimate portion sizes. Tickets that specify what time guests are to be seated also helped the day run smoother. The dinner started at 11 a.m. and ran until 2 p.m.

Renee’s also received a lot of help from other organizations and numerous volunteers. Organizations like the South Texas College Culinary Department, Palm Valley Church, the City of Mission, and Cimarron Country Club gave a helping hand.

Jeremy Williamson, a pastor for the youth at Palm Valley Church, has volunteered every year with the event.

“We directly have been a driving force to get volunteers, delivering the food, helping to serve and a lot of man power. We want to share a part in this and make it happen,” said Williamson. “Having God inside me and hearing his word, I have learned the importance of sharing. I feel like it’s our responsibility as Christians to take care of others.”

Aida Lerma, deputy city manager for the City of Mission, has participated in the Thanksgiving Table as a community leader and personal volunteer every year.

“It’s another way to contribute to the community. The mayor, the councilmen and administration know there are many families needing assistance,” said Lerma. “This is a way of offering help and services when they normally could not, by offering a nice meal and a special day.”

The event serves the greater Mission area. The back parking lot of the business became a dining room area with 300 to 350 seats, with guests that rotated in and out. The menu included sliced turkey breast with bread stuffing, garlic mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, buttered corn, turkey tamale, roll and pumpkin pie.

There were about 200 volunteers scheduled in and out to help. Many of the volunteers feel great satisfaction in helping others.

“On a very personal level, Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays of the year. I think it’s a time to reflect back and count our blessings,” said Lerma. “It’s always been a time to spend with family and share a wonderful feast that we always prepare. However, I know there are families out there that don’t have that opportunity. So this is a good way to give back for anyone who wants to donate their time.”

Williamson agrees with Lerma.

“I’m really grateful that I have been born into a family and in this country. We have been blessed so much, that we are in a position to give back,” said Williamson. “I’m glad that as an American I have the resources and ability to spend my life giving.”

Renee’s Thanksgiving Table not only provides a dinner, but they went out of their way to help those who are homebound and unable to attend the event. A “turkey taxi” made special deliveries to those homebound who called in advance to request a dinner. There were also bus runs to certain colonias to give people a lift to the turkey feast. Volunteers even delivered food to anyone that was booked at the Mission Police Department on Thanksgiving.

Tijerina said they expanded the Turkey Table this year. It was started last year on limited basis, but was very satisfying for the volunteers. Tijerina said, “They got to deliver one plate or two to a household, where an individual was homebound or bedridden.”

Renee’s also held the event on the day of Thanksgiving, not before and not after, making their guests feel more special. There was a greeting line put together by Palm Valley Church, to help invitees feel wanted and loved.

“We also don’t ask our guests to stand in line. We have them seated by a hostess and we serve them,” said Tijerina. “It makes them feel better about receiving the meal. They come here and we make them feel good. They have an uplifting experience.”

“I recently discovered, Matthew 25:35 that reads, ‘When I was hungry you gave me food, when I was thirsty you gave me water, when I was a stranger you invited me in’,” said Tijerina. “These are three things we are (doing) here and it’s a satisfying and gratifying feeling for all involved.”