Annual Raul Jimenez kicks off preparations for Thanksgiving dinner

Organizers plan to feed 25,000 people

Volunteers help at the serving lines during the 36th annual Raul Jimenez Dinner.

SAN ANTONIO – With a little more than two weeks before the big day, the 38th annual Raul Jimenez Thanksgiving Dinner kicked off Wednesday morning.

What started as a meal to serve 200 seniors has grown into the largest dinner of its kind in the country.

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This year’s menu will include all the traditional fixins’, including 9,400 pounds of turkey, 25,000 rolls and 3,000 pumpkin pies.

And, yes, we are getting hungry just writing about this.  

To help put on the meal, Walmart presented a check for $25,000.

The group also honored a volunteer who has taken part in every Jimenez dinner.

“To me, it’s fun and I’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting every year for Thanksgiving,” volunteer Felix “The Iceman” Dominguez said.

This year’s meal is expected to serve 25,000 people.

Those interested in volunteering can click here for additional information.