Christmas Friendship Dinner deemed a huge success

The annual Friendship Christmas Dinner was a rousing success, due primarily to a large number of volunteers and a huge number of donations, organizers said earlier this week. Approximately 600 people were served on Christmas day at the dinner, held at Wasilla High School. The dinner had all the usual fare -- sweet potatoes, green beans, rolls and pumpkin pie, to name just a few of the items served -- and also included 27 turkeys, nine hams and 400 pounds of potatoes.

Volunteerism ran high for the event, with 194 people giving their time either before the event, with planning, food preparation, gift wrapping and decorating, or during and after the event by doing dishes, serving food, entertaining, handing out gifts or simply visiting with guests.

Approximately 130 children attended, each walking away with at least one gift from Santa Claus, who was on hand with his wife. Because there were so many gift donations most of the children received more than one gift, and gifts were also given to many of the adults in attendance.

One elderly woman, said volunteer coordinator Elsie Oliver, cried tears of joy when offered a present.

"Several people said 'please tell somebody thank you' for being able to give their kids a Christmas," Oliver said.