Community invited to Christmas Day dinner

Havreites looking for a fresh, hot meal Christmas Day are invited to the annual Community Christmas Dinner at the Eagles Club.

Event coordinator Tom Farnham, Eagles Club manager, said the requirements to attend the dinner are an "appetite and a smile."

Food will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Anyone who would like a meal but can't leave their home can call the North Central Senior Citizen Center at 265-5464 and arrange to have a meal delivered to their home. The deadline to arrange a home delivery is Friday by 5 p.m.

Farnham said he's been helping coordinate the dinner for the last five years. But it has been happening for, at least, the last 30 years.

For some people, it's not worth making dinner for two, he said. For others, they can't make it to see their family for the holidays - and that's another example of who may attend the dinner. He said the dinner usually draws about 650 people throughout the day - "all walks of life come togethher."

The meal will include turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, dressing, sweet potatoes, corn, cranberry sauce and pie for dessert.

The Community Christmas Dinner happens because volunteers and local businesses donate time, money and even food, Farnham said.

More volunteers are always welcome and anyone interested can call Farnham at 265-9551.

"Or they can just show up," he said.

Volunteers are asked to show up around 11 a.m. as the dinner gets underway.