SAN ANTONIO - Tonight more than two dozen families have a free Thanksgiving meal thanks to one local teen’s family who is honoring her passing by paying it forward.
Our Alejandra Guzman shares spoke with the families benefitting from her giving spirit and the hopes her family has for the holiday season ahead.
Thanksgiving, a holiday that brings families together was just about canceled at Bernadine Otero’s home.
“I wasn't expecting to have a Thanksgiving this year I was not because we didn't have the funds for it,” Otero said.
COVID wreaked havoc in her daughter’s home and things haven’t been the same since.
She’s not the only one trying to get through the tough times.
“I lost my job, I couldn't keep an apartment or anything, Ofelia Buentello a 64-year-old grandmother said. “I'm kind of homeless. I'm not gonna say a homeless, homeless because at least I have a roof over my head.”
However, the holiday quickly turned around for Buentello and Otero.
“People drove up like two hours later asking for me saying my sister had nominated me for surprise Thanksgiving dinner,” Otero explained as she pulled out the turkey from her freezer to defrost it in time for tomorrow.
The people behind the Thanksgiving blessings are the Orta family.
The Orta’s lost their 18-year-old daughter Kiki in a crash last November.
To honor her, they decided to provide 10 families with Thanksgiving meals this year.
Instead, they wound up helping 29 families providing everything from turkeys to side dishes.
“It's an amazing feeling that first family as soon as we helped them, they thanked us they hugged us they were very, very grateful," Annette Orta said. “I know my Kiki is smiling from heaven.”
As Otero and Buentello prep their meals to celebrate with their loved ones they’re thankful for the Orta’s.
“Knowing that they're doing this for the memory of their daughter, they're a blessing they are a blessing,” Otero said.
“Thank you Kiki for everything,” Buentello said.
Kiki’s entire family is gathering for the holiday, the second Thanksgiving without her.
They say it’s a day they will spend sharing memories of her and have already started decorating for Christmas.
The Orta’s say they are already gearing up for another round of giving in time for the Holiday season making sure Kiki’s legacy lives on.