Perla Sanchez knows firsthand some of the difficulties facing those who come to the annual free Love Thy Neighbor Community Thanksgiving Dinner.
Just weeks after she hosted the meal in 2022, a fire destroyed her home and she was displaced for about a year and a half, she said.
She knows she’s lucky — she had family to support her and insurance to cover the loss, she said. Without that, she could have been left homeless, and she’s met people who were because they lacked those things, Sanchez said.
“It can happen to anyone,” she said. “I’m blessed to have resources other people don’t, but I can understand better how people struggle.”
That’s one of the reasons why Sanchez wants to provide a little relief by providing a holiday meal. This is the fifth year she’s been involved in organizing the dinner, which is being held from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 27, at Fiesta Mexicana Banquet, 50 N. Spring St.
“It’s about bringing the community together, spreading positivity and showing kindness,” Sanchez said. “It’s a nice chance to make a difference and connect with our neighbors.”
Volunteers will be serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner funded with donations from organizations like Food for Friends and donations made to her nonprofit, Chancze, which has a GoFundMe account set up to support the dinner. Some food comes from local restaurants, including Ray’s Diner and the Karas Restaurant Group, whose businesses include Alexander’s Cafe and Rookies Sports Bar & Grill.
“It’s just so beautiful how it just shows up at the banquet,” Sanchez said of the food prepared for the meal. “I get very positive feedback. (People) feel a presence. Even if you’re not a believer, you feel something in that room. You feel the love and the genuine connection.”
Last year, about 250 people attended. One family of 13 was hard to forget, Sanchez said. “You could tell they were so under resourced,” she said, recalling that they told her there was no way they could afford to cook a Thanksgiving meal for the entire family.
“We believe everyone deserves a warm meal and a sense of community, especially during the holiday season,” Sanchez said. “God gets the glory for all of this. … He knows the needs that need to be met.”
But credit also goes to Elgin residents, who never let them down, she said.
“The Elgin community has gone above and beyond supporting our events,” she said.
Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
