Richard Guzman will break a tradition this Christmas.
After 17 consecutive years volunteering at Marley Holte’s
holiday dinners, Guzman
– the only person to work all 33 dinners since the original
event – will finally miss a dinner Wednesday.
Guzman’s daughter is engaged to be married, and he left Monday
for Colorado to meet the groom’s family for the first time over the
holiday.
”
I’m going to miss the dinner,
”
Guzman said.
”
It’s good people and good food. But I have to take care of my
family obligation.
”
Richard Guzman will break a tradition this Christmas.
After 17 consecutive years volunteering at Marley Holte’s holiday dinners, Guzman – the only person to work all 33 dinners since the original event – will finally miss a dinner Wednesday.
Guzman’s daughter is engaged to be married, and he left Monday for Colorado to meet the groom’s family for the first time over the holiday.
“I’m going to miss the dinner,” Guzman said. “It’s good people and good food. But I have to take care of my family obligation.”
Holte said his “Christmas family” of volunteers will make up for Guzman’s absence. Holte expects about 800 to 900 guests Wednesday for the dinner that runs from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the O’Reilly Youth Center at Sacred Heart Church, 680 College St.
Holte’s “family” consists of long-time regulars – such as Ron Rodrigues and Kirk Tognazzini – and also new additions each year who see the benefits of personal sacrifice on the holiday. Holte hopes for 70 to 80 volunteers this year.
Holte, along with his wife at the time, held the first dinner to feed county residents of San Benito County in 1984 instead of buying Christmas gifts. After the Free Lance ran a story about the event that year, publicity spread, people showed interest in volunteering and 125 guests showed. With such demand, Holte started a second dinner each year – held on Thanksgiving – in 1986.
Guzman was one of the original six volunteers. While working at the Quien Sabe Ranch, he heard about the need for volunteers and supplies for the dinner. With only a name recognition of Holte, Guzman talked to his wife and showed up at the Community Center with buckets of ice cream and pumpkin pie.
“Volunteers were minimal in the first few years,” Guzman said. “We did everything, a few of us. It was really hectic. We worked all day long and never got out of there until 6 p.m.”
After four or five years, Guzman said publicity continually increased. Eventually, Holte delegated specific jobs to volunteers and held organized meeting throughout the year.
Guzman was assigned to bag food that was delivered to homes, and he hasn’t relinquished the duty since.
“I sort of like to get away from the kitchen,” Guzman said. “I don’t know much about cooking potatoes and stuff. I promoted myself out of that.”
Guzman has also led the efforts to sort donated presents Santa Claus gives to children guests. Through the years, various youth groups have helped him sort gifts, he said.
Even though Guzman’s plate of responsibilities keeps him busy with those two jobs, he never restricted himself from helping in other areas during the dinner.
“He’s done just about everything,” Holte said, “the dining room, cleanup, prep nights, bagging groceries.
Through the years, Guzman even recruited the help of his own little helpers – his three daughters. His oldest and youngest daughters were in charge of stirring the punch, and his middle daughter helped him distribute bags of leftover food.
Holte said other families have followed the example since, and many now bring their children to work the dinners.
“Parents call and ask to bring their children,” Holte said.
Now one of Guzman’s own is grown up and getting married. Missing one dinner, he said, is worth the right reason. And even though meeting in-laws is a good enough rationale, Guzman playfully attempted to request a different date so he could volunteer for Holte.
“I told my daughter: ‘Can’t you set it up for another day?’ She said no. I’ll still call Marley on Christmas and see how everything’s going,” he said.
