For Alexander Rivera, this Christmas marks a special occasion.
“This will actually be my first meal outside of prison, so I am looking forward to that,” he shared, his excitement evident.
After serving 20 years in prison, Rivera is finally free to spend Christmas with his loved ones, a reunion he had long awaited. This holiday season is not just about food and family—it’s about the second chance he’s been given to reconnect with the people who matter most to him.
“Yep, it’s our first Christmas in a very, very long time,” His younger sister Pricilla McGuire said.
Looking back, Rivera remembers the Christmas celebrations he shared with his family when he was on the outside.
“Usually we would celebrate with all the family—my brothers, sisters, our kids, our parents when they were alive. It was a tradition, you know—the tamales, the homemade food,” he said.
For Alexander Rivera, this year’s celebration of Christmas at U&I Restaurant with his family marks not just a holiday reunion but the start of new chapter in his life.