For many across the Rio Grande Valley and the nation, November symbolizes food, fellowship and family.

The month is rife with fall festivals. We find an abundance of turkeys in local supermarkets. Gratitude takes a front-row seat. November marks an anniversary of fellowship for a group of men in McAllen. They share a commitment to broadening the definition of “family.”

It all started in 2017 when former Mission Police Chief Leo Longoria reached out to former McAllen Police Department detective Ric Tamez through Facebook Messenger. Longoria had seen Tamez’s spiritual testimony on the social media platform. The chief decided to reach out to Tamez as part of his own journey of faith. They knew each other from their days in law enforcement but they weren’t close.

The two started talking about their journeys. In 2019, they brought a group of eight men together who committed to meeting every Thursday evening for food and fellowship. Before they knew it, they had developed into a family. The group made a decision after the first year of meeting weekly.

They would close out their meetings for the year the day before Thanksgiving. These men from various backgrounds and on different career paths decided their final meeting for 2019 would be spent putting their cooking skills to good use making turkeys for others.

“At the time, because Leo and I had been in law enforcement, we knew some others in the field who were going through hardships,” Tamez said. 

Longoria recalled it as wanting to “perform an act of kindness. We wanted to let them know that even though they left public service, someone does care.”

They grilled 10 turkeys that first year and delivered them to former members of law enforcement battling critical illnesses and to other families they knew were struggling. They weren’t average food deliveries. The group spent 20-25 minutes at each home and formed a circle of prayer around those receiving gifts.

The group of men have continued to meet every Thursday evening over the last four years. Their group has now grown to 18 men. They plan to deliver 18 turkeys this holiday season. 

“But now, it’s not just a grilled turkey,” Tamez said. “Now we include three sides, gravy, bread and pie.”

Last year, Tamez’ wife, Sofie, and Longoria’s wife, Olga, added their cooking skills to the project.

Blessings Of Sharing

The first turkeys will go on the grill at the Tamez and Longoria homes at 3 a.m. on Nov. 23, the day before Thanksgiving. 

Their team will be with them. The group will have already purchased everything needed to complete the meals. By early afternoon, they will begin delivering, traveling across the Upper Valley to spread kindness.

They have lost some of their law-enforcement friends but the group still delivers to their families. One of those is the family of former McAllen police officer Lupe Gonzalez, who played an integral role in the PD’s Training Department. His daughter, Debbie Gonzalez Harris, lives with her mom and has witnessed the group’s work since their first delivery to the family in 2019.

“It was an unexpected blessing,” Gonzalez Harris said of the group’s visit after her father passed. “You know they are doing it with all their heart and they don’t expect anything in return. They even pray over us, just like they did when they came to visit my Dad when he was in hospice. They’re a big family.”

The group also delivers to the families of students in need as recommended by teachers. Tamez expressed gratitude that their group is not alone.

 “A lot of organizations and a lot of people show acts of kindness,” he said. “Even if you did it for a neighbor, it would have an effect. Do something for someone who lives nearby. It could change the world.”

Giving & Receiving

Longoria said the yearly holiday effort allows him to return what he has received.

“I’ve never been without,” he said. “The more I am kind and give, the more I have.”

Their work goes beyond the one day they make and deliver Thanksgiving meals, Longoria said.

 “It’s personal for us,” he said. “It’s not a seasonal thing. We select the families and we care for them. The ones who have lost someone. We were family when that person was alive and we’re still family.”