Christmas Friendship Dinner serves thousands in Mat-Su Valley

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (KTUU) – An annual Event at Menard Sports Center provides free meals and community connection on Christmas Day.

Volunteers at the Menard Sports Center are preparing to serve between 2,000 and 3,000 people at the annual Christmas Friendship Dinner on Christmas Day.

Linda Luberger, chairman of the board and kitchen manager for the event, said the dinner has been running since 1991. The organization became a nonprofit in 2021.

“A group of people got together and wanted to do something for the people in the community that didn’t have any place to go for Christmas,” Luberger said.

The dinner will run from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day, featuring7 a buffet with 12 different menu items, including turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes and recently added mac and cheese and Jell-O.

Volunteers began setup this week, with turkey preparation scheduled for Dec. 23. The organization will cook 130 turkeys for the event.

On Christmas Eve, volunteers will prepare to-go meals with salad, dressing, cranberry sauce, rolls and desserts.

On Christmas Day, kitchen work begins at 5 a.m. to have meals ready for drivers by 9 a.m., with the main buffet opening at 11 a.m.

The event includes decorations, Christmas trees, Santa and Mrs. Claus, a toy train station, face painting, balloon artists, caricature artists and live entertainment.

Four different performers will provide entertainment this year, and the Elks honor guard will present colors.

Memorial trees allow attendees to place stars for people who have passed away during the year.

Luberger said a care and compassion team walks around to talk with people who may be sitting alone or appear distressed.

The organization also delivers meals to homebound residents throughout the Mat-Su Valley.

Luberger said last year, volunteers delivered almost 400 meals to families who registered on their website.

“We have a real passion or compassion for people that are homebound, that can’t get out,” Luberger said. “If they want to go to grandma’s house, grandma can’t get out, but they want to have Christmas with her, we can deliver a meal for the whole family.”

Drivers volunteer to deliver meals to gas stations, police departments and fire departments for people working on Christmas Day.

The event relies entirely on volunteers, with about 150 people helping each year with many volunteers returning annually.

Local restaurants donate food through partnerships with Cisco, which asks clients to contribute items like green beans and rolls. The Matanuska-Susitna School District donates leftover food that won’t keep through Christmas break and loans equipment including warmers and refrigeration.

Rotary clubs in the valley help by picking up supplies and cleaning the kitchen after the event.

The organization raises funds through various methods including grants, fundraisers and donations. They are planning a major fundraiser in April and working to obtain a gaming license for ongoing support.

This year, an LED wall company is donating equipment to display historical photos from the event dating back to 1991, along with donor logos.

Leftover food is donated to other nonprofit feeding programs in the valley.

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