Special to La Cucaracha News
The 2nd Annual Pueblo Turkey Giveaway was a huge success. This year, 500 Turkey baskets were handed out. This is a Denver and Pueblo collaboration to feed the less fortunate for Thanksgiving in the Steel City.
This couldn’t have been possible without our amazing sponsors! We thank Excalibur Outreach, McDivitt Law Firm, Pueblo Human Resources Commission, El Movimiento Sigue, Rick “Spyder” Madril Run, Outpost Harley-Davidson, Chicano Pride Ride, Isaiah Vialpando Memorial Vicla Run, DJ Caliente, La Cucaracha, Pueblo Chieftain, FOX21 and KOAA Channel 11 News Channels. We can’t do this without 50 amazing volunteers so we thank them.
Brian Collins was able to bring an extra 100 turkeys from Denver to raise our total from 400 to 500. We were the last stop of his amazing giveaway in the Denver area totaling 1,100. He also brought 100 blanket quilts to hand out from the donations created in Denver.
Thanks to Esther Garcia for bringing the burritos for the volunteers. The atmosphere was electric! Our volunteers were dancing with DJ Caliente spinning the tunes. A positive vibe smiles everywhere giving back to our wonderful community.
Thanks Nick, Kim, and the Outpost Harley-Davidson Family for their donation, hosting our event, and proving donuts.
The Motorcycle Community always steps up for our communities. It may be for toys, scholarships, medical concerns, clothing or food drives, and so many other reasons. When you hear loud pipes roaring by, give a wave because more than likely, they have volunteered to give back at sometime to our communities.
The following story was posted on La Cucaracha News.com publicizing the Turkey Giveaway
Second Annual Pueblo Turkey Giveaway
As many as 400 turkey baskets will be distributed at the Pueblo Turkey Giveaway, Tuesday, Nov. 25, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Outpost Harley Davidson, 5001 N. Elizabeth Ave, according to event organizer Robert Cordova.
During the distribution, coffee and donuts will be available in the lobby. Volunteers will direct recipients to the turkey basket distribution line. We respectfully ask one turkey basket per family.
“Due to the overwhelming response to the giveaway, we anticipate an overflow of traffic on the southbound lane of Elizabeth Avenue,” Cordova said. “We ask everyone to fill up the gas tanks and follow all traffic laws.”
The Pueblo Turkey Giveaway began with Denver friends, Brian Collins and Manual “Manny” Arellano. More like brothers, the two have been giving back to the Denver Community for years. They met years ago at Manny’s Primetime Bar. Manual and Brian remained friends over the years and became known for giving back to the Denver area communities.
In 2017, Brian and his sister Jamese bought one turkey each for Thanksgiving. Brian placed the extra turkey on Facebook for any needy family. Due to the overwhelming response, he had the idea for a turkey giveaway for the less fortunate.
In 2020 during the Covid pandemic, he created Excalibur Outreach nonprofit. Brian began acquiring hundreds of turkeys through a friendly competition between Arvada and Ralston Valley High Schools. Brian was a football coach while his son played for Ralston. He challenged Arvada’s school community to see who could collect more turkeys to give out for Thanksgiving.
Manny has been awarding educational scholarships for over a decade, raising several hundred thousand dollars with his Chicano Pride Ride. A few years ago, Brian and Manny linked up so Brian could distribute turkeys at Sun Harley-Davidson in Thorton. During the conversations, Brian, being a person who thinks big, wanted to reach out further than Denver. He felt that Pueblo was forgotten in southern Colorado. He was not having it, and he was determined to pay it forward to the Steel City. This is where Manny came into this conversation and explained he was a proud Eastsider from Pueblo. He told Brian that his brother Roberto Cordova with the Isaiah Vialpando Memorial Vicla Run is the one to talk to get the ball rolling.
“Melissa and I wanted to begin some type of food drive, so this was great timing to pay it forward to the less fortunate,” Robert said. “So being the Pueblo event organizer for the first Pueblo Turkey Giveaway, I knew I had to get the Veterana Susan Durga with the Rick “Spyder” Madril Memorial Run involved. Of course, as always, she was ready to pay it forward.”
Susan has been a part of the turkey giveaways for decades. She was a part of the Pueblo Turkey Run, Sisters helping Sisters, the Christmas Giveaway where all these events afforded a turkey meal. She has never been paid for any of her charity. Last year, she collected over 100 turkeys with the help of family and friends. In Pueblo, 200 turkey baskets were given out in 2024.
This year, Brain will distribute over 1,100 turkeys in Greeley, Arvada, West Minister, Denver, Englewood, Wheatridge, Thorton, and Pueblo.
In Pueblo, they are estimating to give close to 400 turkey baskets, Cordova said. “We must thank our sponsors Excalibur Outreach and McDivitt Law Firm for the $3,000, El Movimento Sigue and the Pueblo Human Resource Commission for $1,000 donations, and Outpost Harley-Davidson for $500 donation plus providing donuts and coffee, and hosting the event.”
We want to thank all the volunteers who will be assisting us during the event. We are extremely humbled by our Denver family remembering there is a Mas Firme Ciudad in Southern Colorado. We remain proud and we remain strong.
Yeah hoo! What an amazing event! People have need in our Pueblo community and Roberto and his crew brought together the resources to give, not just a turkey, but a basketful of fixings! The blankets were given to elders who went through the line. So sorry we couldn’t give two baskets to two households in the same car. What did the communities farther south of Pueblo get together?