Breadcrumb Trail Links
NewsLocal News
Published Dec 06, 2025 • 2 minute read
Michael Day, left, Harshana Fernando, and Kristy Gold, right, are teaming up to organize a free Christmas Day dinner at Quo Vadis Pizzeria in Chatham for a second year. The restaurant will be open from noon to 3 p.m. Dec. 25 to welcome anyone who wants a free holiday meal. PHOTO Ellwood Shreve/Chatham Daily News jpg, CD, apsmcArticle content
Holding a free Christmas dinner on Christmas Day proved to be such a huge success last year attracting hundreds of people, the organizers are doing it again.
Advertisement 2
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
Quo Vadis Pizzeria at 316 St. Clair St. in Chatham will be open from noon to 3 p.m. on Dec. 25 to welcome anyone who wants to enjoy a holiday meal with a lot of people.
Article content
Recommended Videos
Article content
Michael Day had previously been organizing a fundraiser to provide free turkey dinners on Christmas Day. But, it went to a whole new level when the Quo Vadis employee approached the owner Harshana Fernando about hosting a dinner at the restaurant.
“It went really well last year,” Day said. “It went really smooth.”
He noted they were expecting about 100 people and ended up feeding more than 400 people “for our very first try.
“So, we’re doing it again this year, because the need is there,” Day said.
Fernando believes in giving back to the community and is happy to host the dinner again.
Advertisement 3
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“I’m always happy to help people,” he said.
“Jesus brought hope to this world, this is our way of giving it back,” Fernando added.
He said people are welcome to dine-in, pick up a meal or even have a meal delivered. To have a meal delivered, call the restaurant on Christmas Day at 519-351-2333.
“We got a lot of help with people volunteering,” Fernando said.
“I’ve got at least 10 people who reached out to me saying they are willing to help deliver (meals),” he added.
Fernando noted he is also working with some vendors on donations for the meal.
The Elephant’s Nest is also involved in the event with Day working with long-time friend Kristy Gold, manager of the downtown Chatham establishment, to provide the turkey dinners in the past.
Advertisement 4
This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.
Article content
“Mikey’s big heart started this event years ago and then my organization and the generosity of businesses like Harshana and Quo Vadis and the Elephant’s Net teamed up,” she said.
The roots of the Christmas event are continuing.
“We’ve organized 20 turkey baskets – holiday meals for people to cook in their own homes – to be given away,” Gold said.
Part of the groundwork for the upcoming Christmas meal involved a fundraising event held at the Elephant’s Nest on Nov. 22 that featured entertainment and food.
“We’re noticing that this charity event is bringing the community together,” Gold said.
This included people making monetary donations and people volunteering their time, and other businesses including Andy’s Place, The Garden on King, the Satellite Restaurant and Chatham Br. 642 Legion donating, she said.
“We always had that goal to get it this big,” Day said. “I just never thought it would happen so fast.”
Gold added, “We know things are tough and not everybody is able to provide for themselves and the Christmas holidays shouldn’t be one of those times.”
Article content
Share this article in your social network
Dining and Cooking