A group of local residents, businesses and organizations pooled their efforts last week to serve hot meals and provide warm clothing and other goods to those in need in Pajaro.
The project, headed up by Victor and Norma Aguirre and staged in the parking lot of Camino Real Cafe on San Juan Road, drew swarms of volunteers to serve more than 400 homemade tamales, rice and beans, atole, coffee and water, and provide 100 hygiene kits, sweatshirts and socks to homeless people of the area.
“I started this to show how grateful we are for what we have to help the people that really need the help,” Victor Aguirre said. “I mean, sometimes we’re cold in our houses and I think of the people outside at night in the cold.”
Aguirre said he launched the project on Thanksgiving with the help of his cousin, who owns Camino Real Cafe.
“I told her I had a plan to help the homeless, and she said I’d be welcome to use her parking lot,” he said. “She donated all the rice and beans.”
Aguirre then went to buy 160 pounds of chicken himself, but a local butcher ended up paying for 20 pounds. The owner of Pajaro Food Center donated about 80 pounds, and Supremo Mexican Foods donated the other 40 pounds.
Following a cold Friday night, the early afternoon sun Saturday warmed up the setting for the upbeat event, where people dined on dressed tables and chatted with one another and volunteers.
Aguirre’s daughter, Moneay, was among the volunteers.
“It’s important to realize that this is coming from a warm heart, helping those in need and making sure these people get a healthy meal and that we’re able to help out—that’s all that matters,” she said.
Aguirre said the long list of donors included a dentist in Monterey, Sabrosita Catering and Morales Barbeque.“The most important thing, and grateful thing, is that we didn’t ask for help; we just told them what we were doing and they just wanted to help,” Victor Aguirre said of the community. “Every little bit helps.”
