The Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner serves over 25,000 senior and needy citizens and has grown to be one of the largest Thanksgiving benefits in the country. The Dinner is Thursday, November 28, 2024 and doors open at 9:00 a.m., an all-faith worship at 10:00 a.m. and food service, entertainment, and dancing from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at The Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Attendees can enjoy fare-free trips on all VIA mainline bus service, VIA Link, and VIAtrans paratransit service for registered patrons, when traveling to and from the event.
When boarding, passengers who inform the operator they are attending the Jimenez Dinner ride free. Registered VIAtrans clients will be dropped off and picked up at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
For information regarding routes and scheduling, please call (210) 362-2020.
Patricia Jimenez
Patricia Jimenez, daughter of Raul Jimenez stated that her father's Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner started in 1979. Her dad wanted to do something special for seniors, so the first dinner fed about 200 seniors. This year, the dinner will feed about 25,000 people. It takes about 4,000 volunteers to make this happen. She said, our food bill is 18% more than what it was last year. She still needs donations and every little bit counts. We are still in fundraising mode, but we are getting closer and we do not want to let up.
The city of San Antonio donates the Henry B. Gonzales Convention Center and also gives them access to the kitchen. She wants to thank the RK Group, because their experts chefs are the official caterers. They make sure everything is cooked the proper way and is safe and healthy.
She stated VIA will take you to and from the event for free. If you have mobility issues, VIA Trans will also be free. She stated, SAPD & EMS is on site along with doctors and nurses who have donated their time. They will have musical entertainment and dancing.