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LAS CRUCES - Without the Christmas celebration at Gospel Rescue Mission, John VanGetson said he would be spending the holiday in his tent under the freeway, where he's lived since a divorce a few years back. Instead of a warm plate of turkey and pie and a helping of green salad, he'd be eating canned SpaghettiOs, he said.
And VanGetson, though disabled, was one of hundreds who was able to come in person to the free community Christmas celebrations in Las Cruces, which fed close to 800 people at El Caldito Soup Kitchen and the mission, across the street from each other on West Amador Avenue.
Ron Lautenbach, who coordinates meal deliveries for the mission, said there are hundreds of elderly Las Crucens who are homebound - "more than people would realize."
"There was one man and lady, we went to the place and it was a dirt-floored old shack," Lautenbach said. "Others are on Roadrunner Parkway. We don't know their background, but they're probably all alone."
Many children in Las Cruces would also be forgotten by Santa were it not for local charity organizations. A total of 360 children signed up to receive a Christmas present from Gospel Rescue Mission, while more than 200 children received their only Christmas presents from El Caldito's resident Santa Claus, who was assisted by helpers handing out modest scarves, knit caps and clean white socks to grateful attendees Saturday.
Long lines looked ready to match or exceed last year's record tally of 625 residents served
Enrique Chavez, 67, who has been eating at the soup kitchen for 10 years, smiled as he was given two fresh pairs of socks and a scarf.
"It's cold at night," he said, describing the annual celebration as "beautiful."
That was especially true for the littlest guests, the children.
Brothers Enrique and David Chaparro, 8 and 11, raved about their delicious plates of ham and blueberry pie as they held on tightly to their presents.
"We're enjoying the presents," said Enrique. "It's our second year (at El Caldito). I got a panda and a joke book."
"I got a board game!" said David. "It's like, warriors, and I got a car, a Hot Wheels and I got a brown bear."
The two, who are being raised by their mother, said things wouldn't be as festive if they didn't have the El Caldito celebration.
"We'd be staying home, being bored," David said.
"Crying," added Enrique, who then laughed loudly, as though he wasn't sure if it was a joke or not.
"I enjoy being with my family and Christmas is cool here," said their cousin, Alexis Rodriguez, 12, who also spent last Christmas at El Caldito. "The presents, the ham - I got a gift card (worth $10, to McDonalds) and a Bratz doll!"
If it weren't for El Caldito, the family could probably be together for Christmas, she said, but it wouldn't be the same.
"Sometimes there would be a Santa at our house," she said. "But not every year."
Ashley Meeks can be reached at (575) 541-5462.
Help out
•Make checks payable to El Caldito Soup Kitchen; mail to P.O. Box 2833, Las Cruces, NM, 88004.
•Drop off donations - coffee, hamburger meat, lunch meat and other sandwich supplies are especially needed - at the kitchen, 999 W. Amador Ave., Las Cruces.
•Volunteer to work at the kitchen by calling Chavez at (575) 644-8737 or visiting www.elcaldito.com.
•Donate blankets, food, diapers, toiletries and other items to the Gospel Rescue Mission, 1050 W. Amador Ave.
•Donate money via the organization's website: http://lcgrm.qwestoffice.net or call (575) 523-7727.
