Duane Hicks
While it didn’t draw quite as many people as last year, the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau’s 24th-annual community Christmas dinner on Sunday once again saw a solid turnout.
Lead organizer Karen Mitchell said about 200 people attended the dinner, which ran from noon-2 p.m. at Knox United Church, with at least another 60 people getting “Meals on Wheels” delivered to them.
When asked why the number of attendees was down from the 300 in 2010, Mitchell said that because of the mill shutdown, some people who were laid off left town to visit relatives.
As in past years, the community dinner was made possible due to the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of local businesses, families (including long-time produce donors, the Gerbers), and individuals.
Mitchell said the dinner ran smoothly, with volunteers working like clockwork to serve up food, clear and replace table settings, and ensure coffee cups always were topped up.
After the dinner, they helped clean up the church hall and put everything away.
“They were excellent,” Mitchell lauded.
“Donovan Taylor was there, and he kept things rolling for me, cleaning tables and pouring coffee,” she noted.
“And the two little Scheibler boys were just great,” she added, citing just a few of the dozen or so volunteers lending a hand Sunday.
But Mitchell said the event was not the same for her as in past years because a family member passed away suddenly on Christmas Eve.
“I had a hard time,” she admitted, adding she stuck to working in the kitchen during the dinner.
She gave a big thanks to Gaby Hanzuk and June Caul for stepping in and taking the lead role in facilitating the community event on Christmas Day.
“That was hard, especially not being out there associating with everybody, but I just couldn’t do it,” stressed Mitchell, adding she was physically and emotionally exhausted by day’s end but that the dinner was something she had to do.
Prior to the dinner, the gravy was prepared at the Couchiching Bingo Hall, Canada Safeway cooked up the turkeys, La Place Rendez-Vous prepared carrots and coleslaw, and the Fort Frances Jail staff prepared the potatoes and turnips.
Mitchell alone cooked up 200 boxes of stuffing.
All in all, a total of 18 turkeys were prepared, along with six hams, stuffing, potatoes, cabbage, carrots, turnips, corn and peas, and dessert.
While there was some leftovers, they were wrapped up and donated to David’s Deli soup kitchen.
Pastor David Groff of Bethel Baptist Church said grace.
Diane Maxey and her Choraliers once again provided some musical entertainment at the mid-point of Sunday’s dinner, performing selections from this year’s cantata, “Mary, Did You Know?”
Maxey said the group loves performing at the dinner, seeing it as a chance to “give back and share their love of singing.”
“[Dinner attendees] enjoy having us there, and it’s so much fun,” enthused Maxey. “They can listen, and they can continue to chat.
“But people were attentive this time; they really enjoyed it.
“People enjoy it and so do we,” she added. “It’s kind of a tradition. It’s like us going to Rainycrest [to perform the cantata each
December].
“We really look forward to it every year . . . it’s very special for us.”
Speaking more generally about the community Christmas dinner, Maxey said the event is about “camaraderie and friendship,” and it seems a broadening range of people appreciate it now more than ever.
“It’s not just now for people who can’t afford it; it’s for people who are lonely,” she noted.
“And being alone at Christmas is no fun.
“I think it’s a wonderful thing the community does,” Maxey continued. “It’s been responded to so well by volunteers.
“I think more and more appreciate it, and I hope it never stops,” she remarked. “It really makes your day.
“I talk to some people there who are alone and they say, ‘We look forward to this every year. It’s the one time we look forward to seeing people that we know, friends.’
“Some of them are lonely, they don’t have anyone coming to their places, and this provides for it.”
There also was a draw for Christmas gifts—one each for a man, woman, boy, and girl.
The winners were Gordon Roberts, Vivian Olson, Sekina (no last name given), and Kayleigh Walton.
Mitchell, who acted as lead organizer of the Christmas dinner for a third time this year, once again put countless hours into helming the event.
While it is plenty of work, even now Mitchell figures she’ll do it again next year.
