Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

There's place for all at Community Outreach dinner

PORTALES — What better day than Thanksgiving to consider “radical inclusivity?”

It’s not a new concept, but a phrase I first encountered a few weeks ago in the book, “A Bigger Table: Building Messy, Authentic, and Hopeful Spiritual Community,” by John Pavlovitz.

In a nutshell, radical inclusivity explores the importance of welcoming everyone, regardless of any kind of difference, to a common gathering.

It is exactly what Joe Parie and Veda Urioste have been doing for the last 15 years at the Portales Community Outreach Thanksgiving dinner.

They’re back at it today for the 16th time from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Portales Memorial Building, 200 East Seventh St., and if they have one message to get across, it is this: There is a place for you at their table.

This annual free feast started, as most good ideas do, with only two people — Parie and Urioste — kind souls with generous hearts and sensible minds, who had both helped at smaller Thanksgiving Day meals at local churches.

The two worked together for the city of Portales. Parie has since retired, and Urioste is still the deputy city clerk.

“We got to talking,” Parie remembers, “and we said, ‘Let’s do a big one together.’”

They decided from the start to make it an interdenominational event to “break all the barriers,” Parie said.

By not tying it to any church, Urioste said they felt more people would feel welcome.

Over the course of 15 Thanksgivings, the event has grown to feed more than 400 people. For folks who are homebound, this generous table can come to them with deliveries from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Arrangements can be made by calling St. Helen's Catholic Church at 575-356-4241, Parie at 575-607-5927, or Urioste at 575-693-3319.

“Some people think this is just for those who are needy,” Urioste said, “but it’s not. It’s open to all.”

“You don’t have to be alone for the holidays,” Parie stressed.

Urioste said they even encourage folks who are having a family Thanksgiving meal later in the day to come by “for a nibble or two,” and some good visiting.

The event is entirely supported by donations from businesses and individuals.

“We’ve had very good response with a lot of material and financial donations,” Parie said.

Volunteers, ranging from high school students to Cannon Air Force Base airmen, show up to help year after year.

“We don’t even have to ask,” said Urioste.

For Parie and Urioste, the reward is seeing a diverse community sharing a meal on a special day.

“It’s a great feeling to give on Thanksgiving,” Urioste said.

“It’s when you see the look on people’s faces,” Parie added. “That does it for me.”

Betty Williamson believes our whole world needs bigger tables. You may reach her at:

[email protected]