Annual dinner one more chance to help others

There are many community Christmas traditions in the Valley that individual residents have come to make a part of their own schedules. In recent days, there has been a slew of Christmas concerts, plays and other events for families to enjoy.

There are also several worthwhile opportunities to reach out to others less well off this time of year. Area food banks, civic organizations and The Salvation Army all have programs to feed families who might not otherwise have a Christmas dinner. And the Special Santa program has been very successful in seeing to it that all Valley children have presents to open.

Every one of these outreach programs owes its success to the kindness and generosity of the people in this community. The Mat-Su is a better place to live because of the spirit of compassion and giving that is personified here.

One of the final holiday events takes place on Christmas day. The Christmas Friendship Dinner is in its 14th year of existence. Sponsored by the Mid Valley Senior Center, the event combines community outreach with community fellowship to touch the lives of around 800 people.

The centerpiece of the event is a dinner served at Wasilla High School. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, volunteers will dish up some fine holiday fare to anyone who comes through the doors. While the main idea is to feed those who would otherwise go without, the Friendship Dinner has also come to be a gathering place for people who just want to share the day with others.

It is not strictly need-based, and donations are not accepted. There's music all day and a reading of the Christmas story, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there. Organizers call it an ecumenical, cross-generational celebration.

The Friendship Dinner also includes home-delivered meals to shut-ins from Sutton to Houston. This year, organizers expect to deliver about 100 such meals.

An event of this scope could not be pulled off without some serious dedication on the part of scores of volunteers. Wasilla chapters of Rotary International have been big supporters of the dinner and area businesses have also been regular contributors of both goods and volunteers. The Mat-Su School District continues to be instrumental in the annual effort as well, supplying the building and custodians to go along with it.

Happily, most needs are already met for this year's Friendship Dinner. A corps of about 150 volunteers is set to go, but some pre- and post-dinner help is still needed. There is a &#8220slice and dice” slated for Saturday from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., during which much of the food preparation will be done. Extra hands will also be appreciated for the cleanup that follows Sunday's dinner.

Food-wise, pies and dessert items, along with salad ingredients, are still being accepted. Anyone who would like to help out can call Elsie O'Bryan at Mid Valley Senior Center, 892-6114.