Hundreds of volunteers prepare to feed and connect with thousands during annual Christmas Friendship Dinner at the Menard Center

WASILLA —The annual Christmas Friendship Dinner is this Wednesday on Christmas Day and 550 volunteers are gearing up to feed and offer solace, prayers and human connection to over 5,000 members of the community.

Bob and Judy Bowers have been involved in the Friendship Dinner for the last 28 years. Bob said that the Friendship Dinner happens each year thanks to the good hearted army of volunteers, from seasoned regulars returning to serve hot meals and spread season’s greetings to the new coming family that’s teaching their children to help others.

“Without those 550 volunteers, this would not take place… It’s all them. I mean, all we’re there for is support and they do all the work,” Bob said.

Volunteers served over 5,000 people last year, according to Judy. She said they also delivered over 350 meals to people across the Mat-Su Valley, from “Talkeetna to Sutton.” She said they’re expecting to serve about the same number of people this year.

Judy is an active volunteer and Bob is the current chair. Bob said he’s retiring from the board this year. He said that he has every intention of staying involved as a volunteer but also wants to take a step back to let his replacements grow into their new roles with “fresh ideas.”

“It’s time for some younger people to come in, taking over with some new ideas,” Bob said.

This event was founded and continues to be operated by the Christmas Friendship Dinner Steering Committee, a group of community-minded volunteers. All the food will be provided free of charge with one goal in mind: to share the holiday experience with others.

Christmas means a lot to Bob. He said that for him, it means helping others.

“It means I’m supposed to be out there doing something for somebody else,” Bob said. “I’ve always said that one acts of kindness a day can change 365 lives a year. That’s all it takes.”

Bob said that taking part in the Friendship Dinner all these years, witnessing countless heartwarming stories and making invaluable connections with the guests and volunteers has strengthening his unwavering relationship with God and all His children.

“God never lets you down… He’s shown me so many things…” Bob said.

The Christmas Friendship Dinner Steering Committee works year round collecting donations and gathering food and other resources to ensure this Valley tradition stays on track. They also keep the event going with the help of local sponsors like the City of Wasilla, Houston Lions Club and Mat-Su Food Bank.

Judy wanted to stress that this event is not just for the homeless. There’s numerous people across the Valley who don’t want to be alone on Christmas, from widows and widowers to those without any family in the state.

“One of the things we see is families bringing their younger children in to serve others, just showing them how to give,” Judy said. “A lot of people’s lives are touched.”

Bob said volunteers make their rounds to check on guests and make it a point to connect with anyone who looks down or in need of company. He said this could be a prayer, a simple chat or a “shoulder to lean on.” He noted that there’s usually four or five pastors that wander through the event just for that reason.

“You might be helping somebody that God put there especially for you… Everybody else has a gift of some sort and the nice thing about the Christmas Friendship Dinner is there’s so many people with so many different gifts they can cover the entire spectrum of going out into people’s lives.

Volunteers meet throughout the year to gear up for the event Bob made a shout out to his “right arm” and vice chair Kurt Jarmer for all his help and hard work over the last 20 years.

“This guy has just took the bull by the horns and he’s my brother,” Bob said.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com