New Mexico VA Health Care System

Christina Ramirez Fisher House Program Manager Email: christina.ramirez2@va.gov Text: 505-910-2837 Call: 505-265-1711 x7332

A tamalada is usually a big event where large groups of family and friends get together and assemble tamales around the holidays. It’s a festive celebration bringing together many hands to make light work of the labor intensive, but deliciously rewarding, task of assembling and cooking tamales.

Soledad Gonzalez, who is from Northern California, has been staying at the Albuquerque Fisher House since June 29 supporting her son Adolfo through a medical crisis with a mother’s love, care, and cooking. When Adolfo Sr. and their two daughters, Angelica and Maritza, came to provide reinforcements and additional healing hands, she celebrated their chance to be together as a family by putting together a small-scale tamalada in their “home away from home.” For the Gonzalez family, this chance to be together is a holiday into itself, even while socially distancing. Their tamalada filled the Fisher House with the smells of delicious food and the sounds of laughter—it was just a preview of the many celebrations to come for this strong, resilient family.

If you would like to know more about the Albuquerque Fisher House, eligibility requirements (including COVID-19 screening criteria), or how you can support families staying here, please visit https://www.albuquerque.va.gov/features/FisherHouse.asp or email ABQFISHERHOUSE@VA.GOV.