Church Out Serving shared the joy of the season by “serving up love in a bowl” to community members gathered around their tables on Christmas Day.
A free turkey dinner, with all the trimmings, was enjoyed by about 150 people at Riversyde 83 – so named for its location at 83 Sydenham St. in Simcoe – the group’s newly-renovated community centre.
“We invited our neighbors to enjoy a festive feast, whether they are alone or struggling to make ends meet, everyone is welcome,” said Eric Haverkamp, board chair of Church Out Serving.
“It’s not only that people need to fill their bellies but also to feel companionship. Loneliness is also a poverty.”
Sunday marked their 3rd annual community Christmas Dinner, but the first dine-in event. The pandemic forced people to take their meals to go for the past two years.
About 30 volunteers spent part of their holiday preparing a dozen turkeys, several hams, stuffing, vegetables and apple crisp for those who dropped in.
For people who couldn’t get out, Church Out Serving volunteers offered meal delivery.
“I’m alone,” said Barbara Rankin, who lives across the street from the community center and popped in for some Christmas camaraderie. “My family is spread all over Canada and are too far away to get together.
“I think this is wonderful. To be with people is the main thing.”
The community center looked festive and homey. Long tables were decorated with Christmas cloths and at each place setting were candy canes and a ribbon-wrapped chocolate. Little cards were printed with corny holiday jokes: Q: What do snowmen eat for lunch? A: Ice-shepherds.
“We all love to do this,” said Debbie Heinrichs, who was volunteering at the dinner with her husband Kelly and grown sons Eli and Jacob.
The family also helped a young adult group from their church, Living Hope Bible Church in Port Rowan, peel 50 pounds of apples for 150 servings of apple crisp.
As their name suggests, Church Out Serving, a partnership of volunteers from a variety of faith groups and local residents not connected to a church, provides more than just a holiday meal for the community.
The organization prepares fresh, hearty, homemade food for those in need Monday to Friday and offers a frozen meal program with delivery to those who are homeless, elderly and to people with health issues.
The group also packs food boxes for those who can’t make it to the food bank, which is supported by local churches, service clubs and businesses.
And Church Out Serving operates 28 community garden beds at six Simcoe sites, which, last year, yielded 22,000 vegetable servings.
“We serve in excess of 400 meals a week,” said Haverkamp.