Community Christmas dinner plans cooking

Area organizers expect an increase in attendance at various community dinners planned for Christmas.

Organizers of the 27th annual Tuolumne County Community Christmas Eve Day Dinner say between 1,200 and 1,500 diners usually attend.
 

 “That’s about what it seems to be leveling off at,” said Cathie Peacock, event coordinator.

 “Given the economy ... I think it will probably be more.”

The dinner will be served from noon to 6 p.m. Thursday in the Sierra Building of the Mother Lode Fairgrounds off Stockton Road in Sonora.

The event will include live holiday music, a turkey dinner with all the trimmings, gifts for children up to 16, who must be present, and a visit from Santa’s helpers.

Dinner is free but donations are always welcome, Peacock said.

The meal is prepared and served by more than 250 volunteers. Rides are available upon pre-arranged request. Meals will also be delivered to the home-bound by pre-arrangement. Home deliveries must be requested by Wednesday. Take-out meals are not available. For more information, or to donate a turkey, ham or specialty item like cases of water, call 586-4802.

The fifth-annual Christmas Day Dinner at the Sonora Opera Hall will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday.

 Volunteers served 450 dinners in 2008, including meals delivered, and expect to serve 600 meals this Christmas, said James Winters, coordinator.

Dinner will be provided, with all the trimmings, and there will be live entertainment and gifts for children. There will also be free blankets and hygiene products for those in need.

Winters said meals can be delivered and rides can also be arranged for people wishing to attend who need transportation.

“We’re still in need of gifts (for children). I don’t usually ask for monetary donations, but this year not a lot came in ... the usual giving was down this year,” Winters said.

They also need dessert donations.

Whatever food is leftover will be given out in to-go boxes or taken to Sonora’s homeless shelter.

To donate, call Winters at 770-0536.

In Calaveras County, the Murphys Friends will host a free Christmas Dinner from 1 to 3 p.m. Friday at the Native Sons of the Golden West Hall on Main Street in Murphys.

There will be horse drawn carriage rides, story telling and caroling, and pictures with Santa.

For more information, reservations and transportation, to volunteer, or make a donation, call 736-6177.

 “We expect somewhere around 750 (for dinner),” said event volunteer Merita Callaway. “We will probably deliver about 150 meals throughout the county.”

In 2008 about 700 people attended the event, Callaway said.

The event began more than 25 years ago and is supported through community donations.   

“It’s wonderful,” Callaway said of the “traditional Christmas dinner.”

Senior citizens and their friends and families who wish to partake can make prior arrangements and eat their dinners at the Faith Lutheran Church Friendship Center in Murphys at noon Friday.

Reservations need to be made by 4 p.m. Wednesday by calling 728-1672.

“We will also deliver to homebound or those wishing to eat at home,” said volunteer Margo Mohn.

The center will be staffed, music playing, trees decorated and welcoming extended to all who come to share in this wonderful holiday season, Mohn said.

In other holiday meal news, the ATCAA Food Bank in Jamestown distributed nearly 3,000 holiday food baskets to Tuolumne County residents, and the Resource Connection Food Bank in San Andreas today distributed 1,300 holiday food baskets.