B of A helps brighten holiday for Douglas families

By Trisha Maldonado
Douglas Dispatch
Published/Last Modified on Wednesday, November 28, 2012 10:30 AM MST


Three Douglas families got Thanksgiving meals from Bank of America employees, Thursday morning.


The B of A employees delivered complete Thanksgiving meals that helped the families have a nice holiday feast.

"We do it because we enjoy giving back to the community,” Bank Manager Victor Varela said.

Last year the bank employees helped Griselda Martinez a single mother of three. Martinez works at Wal-Mart but still finds it difficult to provide for the extras. They decided to help her and her kids with Thanksgiving again this year.

“I feel very thankful, I am a single parent and it’s hard for me to give my kids a Thanksgiving,” Martinez said. “It’s hard especially this time of the year.”

Rosa Maria Sodari recently had a procedure done on her legs; she suffers from diabetes. She came into the bank asking for a loan to purchase a turkey and winter clothes.

“That was brought to our attention and we decided we needed to help her,” Varela said.

I don’t have any warm clothes or shoes and sometimes I don’t have enough money to buy food. This is very nice of them, Sodari said.

Maricella Lerma whose home burnt down last winter continues to struggle financially. Lerma, a single mother of five boys, finds the holidays extremely difficult to deal with.

“This is really nice and very unexpected,” Lerma said. “But compared to last year, we are a lot better. We continue to struggling a little bit but we are slowly getting there.”

When asked about Christmas, Lerma responded “it does not look good.”

“We provide thanksgiving dinner for them and we also provide something for Christmas,” the bank manager said.

All of the funds for the Thanksgiving dinners and gifts for Christmas come from the associates. This is not a corporate sponsorship, said Varela.

“We needed to be there to actually see how the families were living. Some people think they have it bad whether it is a disease or need something but until you actually see the way these people are living,” Associate Yvonne Perez said. “We learn to appreciate what we have.”

This is the second year The Bank of America employees has given away Thanksgiving dinners.

“The intention for all of us is to continue to support the families during this time,” Varela said.

Copyright © 2013 Douglas Dispatch

Comments

    Not hating wrote on Dec 21, 2012 2:28 PM:

    " People don't seem to read these articles... B of A did NOT put forth the money or gifts!!!! These acts of pure kindness came from these employees making the same if not less than the rest of us.... I for one would like to thank Victor and the rest of his participating staff for their acts of kindness!!! It doesn't matter who they gave things to, it's their money and they can give it to whom every they please. No one else is doing this, Chase employees, Welsfargo employees, and very very few other businesses. Thank you for giving us hope in Douglas BofA employees!!! God bless you and your families! "

    Spongebob wrote on Dec 18, 2012 3:46 PM:

    " To holiday giving

    Well if that is the case then maybe b of a should also donate them some vouchers to Oasis Bar. "

    Holiday giving wrote on Dec 15, 2012 6:41 PM:

    " I wish to say Thank you to Mr Varela and all the employees of B of A .What they did they did was from the heart and if what some of the comments from people are saying is that some of the recieptants are not in the need they say they are. Well then God be with them they are only hurting themselves and the innocent children and it will come around sometimes even the kind hearted are tricked but B of A meant well so Thank you all God Bless "

    los verduz on 4th wrote on Dec 12, 2012 7:37 PM:

    " The heck with the skills these people need birth control. I feel for the tax payers who support their lazyness and their multiple kids that are a result of their partying. "

    another taxpayer wrote on Dec 11, 2012 7:19 PM:

    " B of A, thank you for trying to assistance these people. But please be aware, that Christmas is a time for giving for the needy, need to do research, some of these people, say what they want you to hear, no money, have bills, food stamps have been cuts, but never mention the fact they can find work or even try to. They are so use to getting the monthly check, the free food, and free medical and still cry me a river. Now don't get me wrong, they are people who very needy, but all these people that just want, and want, and expect everything for free need to understand that the work people are the ones dishing out with the taxes and paying into the system. Talk about those who claim that husband is not around, no child support to report, but yet driving around in fancy cars, with 21" tires, and with lasted fashion, and eat shrimp, doesn't matter what you buy because it does come out of thier own pockets. So I can go on ad on, but it will anger the taxpayers and also the people who are wrongfully abusing the system. Talk about fraud, if you suspect any kind of fraud, don't be afraid to report it, it's your tax money paying for all this...... "

    Hope the town realizes wrote on Dec 11, 2012 4:25 PM:

    " I agree with what concerned posted this lady actually has 6 kids and her only girl lives with great grandma due to mother not wanting her, I hope that the community begins to catch on to this ladies game because it is becoming a pattern all over doulgas she is constanly seeking for assistance but then again she is seen living it up and drinking across the line. This lady does not need handouts she needs help with parenting skills, budgeting skills, and employment search skills. Im sure she can find a job just like the rest of us. "

    40 Watt Bulb wrote on Dec 10, 2012 2:13 PM:

    " These people can cry me a river, I know for a fact that they are out and about spending all over the place, but here they are milking the system like they say. "

    Conserned wrote on Dec 10, 2012 1:09 PM:

    " Im sorry but the signle mother of 5 boys really has 6 kids, 5 boys and 1 girl. Her only girls lives with her greatgrand mother. Did you help the great grandmother who is supposrting the 16 year old daughter who the mother dose dose not support or as you can see above dose not even mention. "

    EL BULLDOG wrote on Dec 5, 2012 6:00 PM:

    " Empanada, "Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones". Judging by your post you probably have no clue what that means so I'll explain it. Don't pass judgement on someone when you do the same thing. Check YOUR spelling! "

    Empanada De Atun wrote on Dec 4, 2012 11:18 AM:

    " Chubby you need to check if your computer has spell check before yoy post comments. "

    Erik Morales wrote on Dec 4, 2012 9:05 AM:

    " I think that before giving such assistance out they must take into consideration that this help needs to go to people who really need it because I know for a fact that these people who recieved assistance for thanksgiving receive over 600 dollars in food stamps and are always crying all over douglas for help oh one other thing they dont have money for food but the mothers previously mentioned party like its 1969. "

    roberto flores wrote on Nov 28, 2012 3:32 PM:

    " i think BofA should do much better than that.m "

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