December 4, 2025
By Michele Weisman
The Belton Journal
Vista Real Estate Group’s second annual Thanksgiving meal giveaway more than tripled last years, of 150 dinners, giving away 500 meals at Heritage Park in Belton last Monday.
At 10 a.m., they began handing out meals, 400 to the public and 100 to Fort Hood. Inspired by a personal experience of co-owner Emilio Perales, this legacy is gaining momentum. Vista Real Estate staff, about half a dozen HEB employees, Belton City staff, and many sponsors came to
serve the community, witnessing cars in line at 7 a.m.
Occupants were asked to stay in their vehicles while the
food was brought to them. No questions for qualifications were asked.
The first to be served was 1-8 CAV from 1st Cavalry Division.
Perales said about the 1st Cavalry Division, “We coordinated
with 1-8 CAV, and they were actually redeploying back from the National
Training Center in California. And so we gave 100 Turkey baskets for them…their leadership showed up to receive the turkey baskets.” When in the military, Perales said, “I was a recipient of one of those baskets back in the 90s. I just said if I ever had the means that I would give back…so we started this company back in 2012, one of my requirements was, we’re going to give back to the community. And since 2012 we have each and every year, over and over. And so it kind of falls in line with our mission statement…our core values.”
Food purchased from HEB provided each family with turkey, canned green beans, corn and cream of mushroom soup, bagged French fried onions, boxed stuffing, instant mashed potatoes, gravy, a package of rolls, pumpkin pie, and canned
cranberry sauce.
Tori Tawater, marketing for Vista, said, “True Harvest lettuce,
they’re a local hydroponic lettuce farm here in Belton, and
they provided 500 bags of lettuce.”
There were 27 businesses that sponsored the event and individual
sponsors. Vista has a 501(c)(3) for a fundraising golf
tournament, and a portion of what they raised went toward the
occasion. The Belton Chamber of Commerce, Hillary Hickland,
state representative District 55, Sam Listi, Belton city
manager, and Matt Bates, Belton assistant city manager, helped
at the event. Sponsors Lange Roofing, Roam Roof & Solar,
Tanner Roofing, Monteith Title Company, Welch Development,
Bold Republic Brewing Company, and many more also
helped that day.
200 meals had been given and with no more cars in line,
Kayla Clayton of Vista Real Estate Group took the megaphone.
“All right, everybody, stop what you’re doing. Go to your
Facebook, share that fl yer and go Facebook Live,” Clayton
said, “And everybody went Facebook Live. And then we it was
like, 15 minutes and cars started coming.”
The last dinner box was given out at about noon.
Perales said, “And since we posted, there’s others that have
been reaching out to help next year.”
Vista’s first Thanksgiving meal of free turkey, sides, and
fixings was held at their Belton office.
Matt Bates with the City of Belton suggested using Heritage
Park.
Co-owner Jimmy Torres said of last year’s dinner line, “…
it was backed up all the way down 317 all the way past the car
wash and all the way to Walmart. That’s why we had to move it
somewhere where the loading area was a lot easier.”
The City of Belton helped coordinate the event, blocking
off roads and unloading the food with a forklift at the park.
Bates reported that people arrived into the early evening with
hope meals were still available. Vista plans to increase its giving
for next year’s Thanksgiving Dinner Giveaway.
Vista Real Estate Group’s mission statement, “Building
lasting and meaningful relationships by consistently investing
in our communities and clients,” goes beyond the Thanksgiving
dinner. Their non-profit provides the funds for several of the
opportunities it funds.
