Restaurant continues Christmas lunch tradition

PORTALES — On most days in eastern New Mexico, Christmas is suitable slang for red and green chili sauce with your enchiladas. On Dec. 25, it means a time for friends and family to come together.

For a Portales restaurant, both definitions could apply. El Rancho opened its doors on the holiday for the 14th straight year to serve a free Christmas lunch to anybody who could navigate through the packed parking lot.

Co-owner Joey Garcia said the expectation was to feed between 250 and 350 people, an average year since the free meal first began as a way to give back.

"When we first started, we did a traditional Thanksgiving dinner," Garcia said. "Everybody started asking for enchiladas, because we're known for that, so we did that.

"We always have posole, which is a traditional Christmas soup, and community members donate dessert so there's always some variety there."

The crowd of visitors, with no particular prevalence in age, race or financial situation, came to the door and were pointed to the serving line by Melvin McAfoos.

"I've been doing this as a volunteer for eight years, and my wife has been doing it for 10 or 11," McAfoos said. "It gives back to the community, helps it owners."

McAfoos started volunteering in his last few years in law enforcement - his final stop was with the Elida Police Department - and took on the greeter role because his knee wasn't cooperating that day. On a healthier day, he'd be right next to Eva, who was decked in a red sweater as she helped dish out beans and rice while wishing every person a merry Christmas.

Melvin was also a fan of the meal, with his favorite part being,"all of it."

Garcia said while the lunch may have started with the family, it wouldn't have nearly the impact it does without the 15 to 20 people unaffiliated with the family and restaurant that volunteer annually.