For many, the holidays are about gathering with friends and family, but some have no one to spend Christmas with.
That’s where a community dinner in Vernon comes in.
The free “Together for Christmas” Christmas Day dinner, where everyone is welcome, aims to prevent loneliness.
“Our main focus is that no one is alone for Christmas,” said organizing committee member Jae McDermott.
“Everybody and anybody is welcome.”
It’s the 10th year volunteers have put together the free community dinner, and they’re ready to serve a crowd with 300 pounds of turkey, 12 hams, 250 pounds of potatoes and 150 pounds of carrots.
Along with the food, organizers have arranged door prizes, crafts, music and table games for their guests.
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“All we are doing is doing something that we love doing. The fact that they are so thankful for what we have done is just a special feeling.”
Birch cooked up the idea of community Christmas dinner with a friend a decade ago.
Last year, they served 375 people. Birch said that it’s bittersweet to see the project still going strong.
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“It feels good, but it is also a bit scary to know that it is still needed 10 years later,” Birch said.
If you don’t drive, free rides and dinner delivery are available.
Festivities run from 2 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Christmas Day at St. James School in Vernon with dinner served at 4 p.m.
Anyone looking to sign up for transportation or dinner delivery can call Jae at 250-308-9973.
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