OLEAN — Drivers are being sought to help deliver meals on Christmas Day.
The annual community Christmas dinner at the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels is seeking volunteers and accepting reservations for the takeout dinner on Christmas Day. Parishioners of the Enchanted Mountain Catholic Community — which includes Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, St. John the Evangelist in North Olean and St. Bonaventure in Allegany — will prepare a carry-out and delivery dinner of ham, potatoes, mixed vegetables, fruit cup, roll and apple pie for up to 1,000 people.
No in-person dining service will be held again this year.
Parish volunteers will take on the burdens of food preparation, home deliveries and clean up, but many volunteers are needed for deliveries. Drivers will line up on the east side of the 200 block of South First Street to deliver meals, with runners carried to the cars for drivers and helpers to deliver. Those coming to pick up their own meals will line up on the west side of the street.
Those wishing to help with deliveries may call the parish office at (716) 372-4841 ext. 115 or 116, or go online www.emcatholic.org.
Those hoping to get a meal need to make a reservation for either pickup or delivery. Delivery is available in Allegany, Knapp Creek, Hinsdale, Olean, Portville and Westons Mills. Call the parish office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday through Dec. 20, or visit https://emcatholic.org/christmas-dinner-reservations.
After Dec. 20, call (716) 790-3785. When making reservations, provide a name, address, phone number and number of meals requested to ensure availability of food and delivery.
Free-will donations to offset the cost of the meal are being accepted. There are several ways to donate: Visit emcatholic.org, call the parish office or mail checks to the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels, 202 S. Union St., Olean, N.Y., 14760. Write “Christmas Dinner” in the memo area of the check.