BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — What started as a Christmas dinner for the public in 1989 has turned into a grand event spanning five locations with hundreds of volunteers serving thousands of meals as the Bandera Christmas dinner returned for its 35th year.
“That was the tradition that my mom started, which was that we wanted to have a free meal with no qualifications,” said Bill Bandera, President of the Bandera Family & Community Alliance.
The tradition started at American Legion Post 80 in Binghamton and expanded to Endicott, Norwich, Oxford, and Sidney locations. The feast features holiday classics such as turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn, and various desserts.
“It’s just the most amazing thing that can ever happen, I think anyways, ” said Peter Boigel, Bill’s right-hand man, who flies up from Florida two weeks prior to help set up for the event. “People start to mingle with each other that don’t have a lot, and it turns out to be a good conversation especially if you can get involved in it.”
Darlene Drake has been volunteering at the dinner for the last 10 years. She told 12 News, “The reward inside and warmth that you get from knowing that you gave back to the community just feels so good. You can’t even explain it. It’s wonderful.”
The event is in its 35th year and BINGHAMTON (WBNG) — What started as a Christmas dinner in 1989 has turned into a grand event spanning five locations with hundreds of volunteers serving thousands of meals as the Bandera Christmas dinner returned for its 35th year. . “We want to do fifty. That’s the goal.”
Copyright 2024 WBNG. All rights reserved.