When the Food Bank of the Rockies hands out over 1,500 meals a day to local children through 60 Colorado after-school meal sites, they try to keep child-like cuisine and cultural staples in mind.

“We do our best to listen to what the kids want. We get feedback all the time,” Jon Knight, executive chef at Food Bank of the Rockies said in a press release. “So, when they told us they want tamales, we absolutely jumped at it, and did our best to make it happen.”

The food bank was soon providing over 1,500 tamales to area children a month.

Dana Rodriguez, executive chef at Casa Bonita, Cantina Loca, Super Mega Bien and Work & Class, teamed up with with the nonprofit on Dec. 21 to prepare tamales in preparation for the holiday weekend.

The widely known chef used her “cherished” tamale recipe, according to the release.

“Everybody knows how to make tamales, but I wanted to show my own way,” Rodriguez said in an interview. “I love to be a part of this organization, so that’s what we’re doing today.” 

Regarding why tamales are important for the Mexican culture during the holidays, Rodriguez points toward holiday traditions.

“One of the biggest traditions we have in Mexico is the big gathering we do around the year, making tamales with our family, neighbors and community,” she said. 

“I grew up in a little border town making tamales with my grandmother,” Lorena Toland, chief people officer at the food bank said.

“It was really all about the gathering and seeing our family come together making dozens and dozens of tamales. I think it’s so important for us as an organization to see it in the same way and [include it in] the support we provide to our community.”

To help maintain the Mexican tradition amongst local families with food insecurity, the food banks purchased items like masa flour, corn husks, ancho chilis and more to ensure families have the staples to make tamales, according to the release.

These items will be distributed through the nonprofit’s network of Hunger Relief Partners as well as through signature programs like mobile pantries.

The most important part of providing these tamales to children, according to Rodriguez, is to “engage with them and make them feel that someone is looking out for them if they don’t have a meal at their house.”

“Even if you provide one meal… to one person that doesn’t have any, it will change their life and it will change your life, too,” Rodriguez said.