(File photo)
From left, volunteers Traci Morris, Kathy Finley-Boggs, Kaelin Morris and Eric Mallett pack meals for delivery on Christmas morning 2023 at the Christmas Day Feast at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village in Marietta.
The spirit of Christmas is alive and well in the Mid-Ohio Valley, where local churches and civic organizations are working tirelessly to provide meals, companionship, and a festive atmosphere to those in need during the holiday season.
Among these efforts is the Christmas Day Feast hosted by the Knights of Columbus Hall in Marietta..
This year marks the 11th annual feast, and organizers are preparing to serve over 900 meals, which according to organizer Bruce Haas a record-breaking number. The feast includes dine-in, carry-out, and delivery options to ensure everyone in the community can partake. However, the Christmas Day Feast has hit over its capacity and is not openly accepting more reservations for the meal.
With preparations in full swing, organizers are calling for additional volunteers to help with various tasks at the Knights of Columbus #478 hall at 312 Franklin St. in Marietta. For volunteers interested in helping out on Christmas Eve, they are asked to show up at 1 p.m. to assist with peeling potatoes, cutting pies and packing fruit. For those wanting to help on Christmas, the day of the feast, they can arrive at 9 a.m. to help with packaging meals for delivery and delivering meals or at 2 p.m. volunteers can assist with clean-up efforts.
For those interested in volunteering contact Angela Greahouse at 740-525-4384 or Haas at 740-629-1277.
The First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg will host a free Christmas meal from noon-1:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. The meal will be served at the church at 1341 Juliana St. in Parkersburg. Entrance to the building is at the rear of the church and the meal is open to everyone. While the church has all the food for the meal covered, they are still accepting monetary donations.
The Gospel Mission Church plans to host a Christmas meal at 4124 14th Ave. in Parkersburg. The meal will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
According to Pastor Tim Burch, the dinner will be held in the fellowship building, with volunteers on hand to guide attendees to the location. Rather than a traditional buffet setup, the church has opted for a soup kitchen-style service, where volunteers will bring plates of food and drinks directly to the guests.
“We want to treat the community and serve people,” Burch said. “It won’t be a buffet thing. People go up in like a soup kitchen. We’ll take a plate to them and if they want something to drink, we’ll bring it to them.”
The church has recruited over 25 volunteers to assist with various tasks throughout the event, ensuring a smooth and comfortable experience for all who attend. In addition to the meal, the program will include a brief talk about the Christmas story and a word of prayer before the dining begins.
Burch emphasized that the church has set aside funds to cover all the costs of the dinner, and they are not seeking any donations or external support from the community.
“We just want to treat the community,” Burch said. “We don’t want to ask anything from them.”
Dining and Cooking