No home for the holiday

Christmas morning is a day filled with glee for most people -- the unwrapped presents beckoning attention, the sense of family and the warmth that brings. But Christmas morning can also be a lonely time for many people.

Two community organizations are hoping for some help, so they in turn can provide a warm and happy holiday to people of the Valley. For 10 years, the Christmas Friendship Dinner has been making sure Christmas is merry for those with no place to spend the day.

A decade ago, some friends got together to put together Christmas dinner for others. They all pitched in and worked together to prepare the meal, which was served at the Wasilla Seniors Center. After a successful day, the group planned to do it again the following season. They got Bob Bowers, owner of Country Kitchen, to help, and along with Elsie O'Bryan's assistance, the event has only gotten bigger every year.

In 2001, the dinner moved to Wasilla High School because the school was better equipped to handle the large number of people. Last year, more than 500 meals were served, in addition to meals that were delivered to homebound people. That is where this year's event will be held.

There is no charge for the Christmas Friendship Dinner. The event is funded entirely by donations from the community, as well as in-kind donations of gifts and services, which are given away as presents during the event.

During the event, there are door prizes given away every few minutes. Santa and Mrs. Claus show up with an appropriate gift for every child, and the elves even are on hand to take instant pictures of the children. There is also entertainment provided by professionals who volunteer their services.

The planning for the event takes place at 3 p.m. every Sunday at Country Kitchen in Wasilla. Volunteers are needed for the planning stages, and for Christmas Day.

For more information, interested people can call Jim or Elsie Oliver at 373-3561.

Another community organization that provides Christmas to those who don't have a place to go is Nugen's Ranch. Nugen's Ranch is a family, organizers said, which consists of 30 people who will not be with their loved ones because they are seeking treatment for their addictions. There are 22 men and eight women who will be spending Christmas at Nugen's Ranch this year.

Last year, 18 people graduated from long-term residential treatment programs and are spending this Christmas with their loved ones.

Donations can be made to Nugen's Ranch, and there are no items that are too small. In the past, the clients have found items such as AA batteries, warm socks, gloves, hats and other clothing very useful. Other items that help make the holidays better include writing journals, craft items such as beads and leather projects, pens and colored pencils, games and picture frames.

To make a donation to Nugen's Ranch, interested people can contact Shari at 376-4534.

No donation is too small

If you want to help, but don't know what to do, remember that anything is appreciated this holiday season. The Christmas Friendship Dinner can use any donation, whether it be in the form of cash or goods.

If you want to help, here are some of the things the organizers could use help with:

You can bake a couple of pies to be served with dinner. You could buy a gift for a child, with a $5 to $10 limit. You could provide personal items such as a hat and gloves. You could provide a household item such as a book, video or tape that could be given away as a door prize. You could give a gift certificate for anything, from hair cuts to video rentals. You could give the gift of cash to help provide the dinner. You could simply donate some gift wrapping paper.

If financially, things are tight and you can't donate, don't worry. Volunteers are needed for the dinner as well.

You can volunteer to help prepare the food the day before Christmas, to help wrap and mark all the toys and gifts, to help set up and decorate at Wasilla High School, to help serve dinner on Christmas Day or to help serve on clean-up crews.

Most importantly, you can bring your family to the Christmas Friendship Dinner to visit with people who don't have family in the area.

For more information on how to help, interested people can call Jim or Elsie Oliver at 373-3561.