Like starting a trip down the sledding hill, Dignity Tuesday is gaining momentum to become a Golden holiday tradition.
On Nov. 22, the second annual event provided 100 Thanksgiving meals and Christmas trees to Golden-area households experiencing need during the holiday season.
Organizer Chuck Lontine said about 25 local nonprofits and businesses donated a literal ton of food — turkeys, hams, bread, produce, pies, water and more. BGOLDN provided space outside its food pantry at New Hope Community Church, and about 50 volunteers spent hours assembling all the supplies for pick-up on Nov. 22.
Finally, Golden-based Kitchen One for One provided tacos for clients and volunteers, which Lontine said was a last-minute and providential addition to the Dignity Tuesday team.
Golden’s Brittany Mercier thought the taco truck was a great idea, as was offering ham as an alternative to turkey. She appreciated everyone who donated and helped organize the event.
Mercier, who frequents the BGOLDN food pantry, was planning to celebrate Thanksgiving with her husband and their 3-month-old son. So, receiving a free meal from the Dignity Tuesday event was a big help for her family.
Lontine, who owns Golden’s 96.9 The Cloud, felt the turkeys and ham would be an extra boon for some households. The meat can make a variety of meals to help while school lunch programs are on hiatus.
“It’s the gift that keeps on giving,” he continued.
Lontine spearheaded the inaugural event in 2021, and many of last year’s partners returned to help this November. Lontine and BGOLDN Executive Director Kevin Andrezejewski hoped to see Dignity Tuesday continue next year and beyond, so it becomes a holiday staple for Golden.
“It’s an opportunity for the entire community,” Andrezejewski said of the event.
Volunteers Rosemary DeHoyos from Ramos Law and Maria Ramirez from Golden’s Sunflower Bank both appreciated the opportunity to help and be part of the community. Ramirez commented how, because it’s the giving season, she hoped Dignity Tuesday would not only continue but grow, and inspire similar events.
“It’s a blessing for people in need and those who sponsored it," DeHoyos added. "It’s big that they want to give and be involved, even in the smallest of things.”
