STURGIS, Mich. — A home-cooked meal is part of the tradition for many this Christmas, but not everyone can be so fortunate.
That’s why several groups in West Michigan are making sure everyone has bread to break for the holiday. At the Fraternal Order of Eagles, Christmas fellowship means more than just turkey on a plate.
They’ve spent 22 years welcoming their neighbors in from the cold and building friendships during the most wonderful time of the year. 15 volunteers spent their Christmas serving hundreds a meal they won’t forget, for absolutely no charge.
Ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy and Jell-O were all on the table Wednesday afternoon, all made possible with the help of Eagles members, church groups and donations from local businesses.
For Chairman Pete Davis, it’s a holiday project that goes beyond a gift under a tree.
“It’s like putting a wedding together,” Davis said. “It’s a lot. We’ll probably do between 200 and 300 people, depending on the economy.”
Whether they were in need of a meal or just looking for Christmas company, the tables were full even before the start time.
Davis says theirs is the only dinner for about 30 miles around, so the need is never small.
“Even last year, my wife had stopped on the way home with some extra trays that we had, and there was a fellow sitting, and she stopped and asked him if he had anything, and he said he hadn’t eaten in two days, so she gave him some carryout trays of food,” Davis said.
Many of those who sat down have come year after year since the Eagles began serving dinner.
“So I come here for the smoked turkey and for the ham gravy mostly, draws me back year after year,” Mark Huff of Sturgis said.
“It’s just really good to see, especially the ones that really really need it,” Judith Lumm of Sturgis told us, “because we do have a lot of homeless people who really need this.”
Galene Crafts, whose son is volunteering, called the Eagles “fabulous” and said they are “a wonder in this town, they’ve done good.”
The Fraternal Order of Eagles aren’t the only group serving Sturgis over the holidays, as last month the American Legion fed the community for Thanksgiving.