By John Kubal
The Brookings Register
BROOKINGS — In addition to being a day to celebrate the birth of Jesus, Christmas is a day for family and friends to come together, to enjoy each other’s company and to enjoy a traditional and festive dinner. Sometimes that ideal setting is not possible and people end up eating alone.
Once again, however, Brookings First Lutheran Church is hosting a gathering that goes back about 20 years and has become a local tradition: A Christmas dinner that reaches out to those who for whatever reason do not have the opportunity or place to gather with family and friends. It takes place in the Activity Room from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Christmas Day. At last year’s dinner, about 450 people were served.
Making it possible are about 30 volunteers from around the community. This year’s event is the 15th with Paul Johnson, a member of the First Lutheran congregation, at the helm getting the mission accomplished.
“It isn’t that I do that much,” he said smiling, adding, “We’ve got great volunteers that help out that way. I don’t want it thought that I’m the czar that runs everything. I just oversee it and make sure it flows. A few of the volunteers have been at it as long as I have. But we are always incorporating some new ones, too.
“One of the local doctors last year was there with her family because she wanted her younger kids to start learning about community service and thought this would be a good way of doing it. We have (volunteers) from 5 years old to 85.”
A bill-of-fare brought together by Johnson and his fellow volunteers includes: 14 turkeys and six big hams making up the main course. Add to that sides that include mashed potatoes, gravy, dressing and pies.
Johnson and some of his family “arrive early in the morning and get the turkeys going. By 9 in the morning we have volunteers showing up to cut pies and do different things. That goes on pretty much throughout the day, depending on what people have for time. Maybe they help with deliveries, maybe they do cleanup or in the case of the doctor, they were helping people get their plates to their tables and then cleaning up afterwards and then resetting for the next round.”
Other volunteers are serving people and washing dishes.
Johnson noted that volunteers are still needed. Call the church at 605-692-6251 for any and all questions and information related to the dinner. Note that 70 homemade pies are needed.
Johnson explained that no reservations are needed. It’s open to anybody, come one, come all. “Realize that there might be a line, but we’ve implemented a system where you’ll get a number when you come in; you can sit at tables in the coffeehouse and wait until the line is short and you can go through.”
Some meals delivered
For those who can’t come to the feast, the feast can be brought to them. That includes shut-ins, who can reserve a meal in advance by calling 605-692-6251. Their meal will then be delivered on Christmas Day.
Add to the above diners those public servants whose 24/7 duties demand their presence on the job on days when most of us are at home enjoying celebrations with family and friends: police, sheriff’s deputies, EMTs and Highway Patrol. Included are the Brookings Police Department, Brookings County Sheriff’s Office and the University Police Department.
“You know those people working those days, there’s no cafes or anything open,” Johnson explained. “They probably have to bring a sack lunch and nobody should be eating a sack lunch on Christmas Day.”
A free will offering will be accepted. However, Johnson stressed, “It’s not required nor expected of anybody.”
Diners will enjoy their meal in a family-style setting, with eight people at a table.
“We’ll have 22 round tables set up. People will flow through and most tables will be set up at least twice,” he said, adding “If you’re going and you know a neighbor who is going to be alone, invite them, bring them along.”
Johnson noted that while First Lutheran provided the venue, the dinner has members of the community pitching in to make it happen. He cited Thrivent Financial, Hy-Vee, and Perkins, the latter helping out with pies.
Again, a reminder: Volunteers are always needed and welcome. For additional information and to sign up, call First Lutheran at 605-692-6271. The church is at 337th Eighth St. in Brookings.
Contact John Kubal at jkubal@brookingsregister.com.