Author photo

By KARLA POMEROY
Editor 

Serving up a sober Thanksgiving dinner

 

December 1, 2022

Karla Pomeroy

Shannon Christian and Angie Garcia work on preparing a Thanksgiving meal for the recovering community on Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, at Angie's Kitchen in the 11th Street Plaza.

WORLAND - For the second year Angie's Kitchen owner Angie Garcia has offered a sober Thanksgiving dinner for persons in recovery.

This year about a dozen people enjoyed a meal of ham, green bean casserole, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy and rolls, along with two types of pie for dessert. Garcia said about 20 people attended last year, the first time she offered the dinner.

Garcia has been catering since 2018 and offered food during special events including Culture Fest and Rotary Club meetings, but it wasn't until her aunt, Minerva Martinez, retired did she have the opportunity to open her own restaurant at the former local of Martinez Mexican Restaurant.

"I've always loved this building, since it was Java Dreams," she said. With her own facility she felt she could provide a sober environment for a holiday meal for those in recovery and five days after "getting the keys" to the restaurant in the 11th Street Plaza, Garcia was serving up the free Thanksgiving to persons in recovery in 2021.

She was helped last year and this year by Shannon Christian. They joked that the meal went well despite the fact that the fridge ended up refreezing the turkey but Christian had a turkey already thawed to replace it and the meal went off smoothly after that.

"This year we were much more organized," Garcia said.

Christian said last year she and Garcia kept hearing about people in recovery that were going to be alone for Thanksgiving and they didn't want them to be alone.

"I grew up around addiction. I saw the harm it does to individuals," Garcia said, adding that those who turn their lives around should be celebrated. "People choosing a better life deserve to be celebrated," Garcia said.

She said the dinner provides an opportunity for those in recovery to hang out and enjoy a good meal with others who have gone or are going through similar struggles.

"The best people I've met are from recovery," she added.

She said she plans on making the Thanksgiving dinner an annual event. "We have a great time doing it," Garcia and Christian said.

Garcia also caters quite a bit for Cloud Peak Counseling Center for individual group parties and events such as this year's Ryan Leaf visit and last year's Court McGee visit.

In addition to celebrating those in recovery, Christian and Garcia encourage those struggling with addiction to seek help.

"My dad chose never to get help and he died at the age of 60. People need to know there is help and support, they just have to be willing to ask," Garcia said.

 
X
 

Powered by ROAR Online Publication Software from Lions Light Corporation
© Copyright 2024