LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) – One Deep East Texas woman had a special mission this Christmas — to feed as many people dinner as she could at a Lufkin park.
What started as an idea for De’Auna Salser turned into reality. With help from donations, her husband Dacoda, and a lot of time spent cooking, Salser was able to provide a Christmas meal to people in need in the Lufkin area.
“If they’re having a rough time in their life or they’re just down on their luck — because I’ve been down on my luck so I know how it feels — I want everyone to know that we love them, no matter what, and to still have a merry Christmas,” Salser said.
She explained homelessness is something people don’t often understand or empathize with, but having had loved ones who have experienced it, she knows firsthand how important it is to help when you’re able.
“I feel like even if they have done drugs or if they’ve done something bad in their life or been in jail, I feel like no matter what, you still deserve food in your stomach and to be happy, especially in a holiday that’s about family,” she said.
People received boxes filled with turkey, rolls, green beans, mashed potatoes and more. And if they weren’t able to come in person, Salser’s parents, Kalin and Roland, traveled around Lufkin to pick up people and bring them to Kiwanis Park to get their free meal.
She said some people aren’t able to celebrate with their families around the holidays, and she hoped this could be a little light in someone’s Christmas.
“I figured this would give them hope that somebody cares about them in the world, that we still love them no matter what they’re going through,” Salser said.
With donations from the community of both food and money, Salser and her family said they were able to do something truly impactful for Christmas. She said that they were able to feed people at the park, deliver meals around Lufkin, and donate the remaining meals to the Godtel homeless shelter.
She hopes that this will inspire everyone to be more considerate when they encounter someone in need during the holidays.
“I want everybody to know that we should be kindhearted to everybody again, no matter what they’ve been through or what they’re going through, and just be warm around this time of year,” Salser said.
In the future, Salser says she hopes to continue cooking meals for the homeless community in East Texas and is always looking for extra help.
For those interested in helping, or who are in need of a meal, she can be reached directly at her Facebook De’Auna Salser.
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Dining and Cooking