Season’s Eatings

WASILLA — Gov. Sarah Palin really does serve the people, and has the apron and spoon to prove it.

The governor made a surprise visit at Tuesday’s annual Christmas Day Dinner at Wasilla High School, and it wasn’t long before she was behind the steam tables serving up helpings of mashed potatoes and yams.

“Isn’t this cool?” the governor said about the community feed, which drew more than 1,000 people to WHS this year. “What’s neat about this is those folks who’ve been here [volunteering and organizing] this for 16 years.”

Daniel Brown, Palin’s serving buddy on the line, was nearly giddy over the unexpected gift he received from the governor.

“She said I was her new best friend,” he said.

Palin and Brown were part of the estimated 200 volunteers who helped make the 2007 Christmas Day Dinner another success, said Bob Bowers, who has been and organizer of the event since its inception. About 1,200 attended last year’s event and more than 1,000 were fed Tuesday. An actual count wasn’t immediately available.

For Bowers, the community gathering in a central location to eat, sing, visit Santa Claus and be neighborly embodies the spirit of the holiday.

“This is just fantastic, just like it is every year,” he said. “We’ve go doctors, lawyers, businessmen, community folk all together. Even Sarah [Palin] showed up this year. Wow.”

Enjoying the food and playing with other kids was Clarissa Coon, 7, who was excited to talk about her Christmas experience.

“We opened up our presents,” she said. “My daddy’s friend [came over] and I showed them what I got, and that I made a leaf thing for my daddy.”

Hannah Clark, 11, spend much of the time with her family and taking turns singing Christmas carols. She also complimented whoever donated the brownies on the dessert line.

“I love their brownies,” she said. “They are the best. I think this is all really, really great. I like to sing and they let kids sing.”

Santa Claus himself was one of those enjoying listening to Coon and others sharing the microphone singing holiday tunes. Fresh off making his around-the-world trip, Santa was still lively and spry, visiting with children, who each left with a free photograph with the Jolly Old Elf.

Many of the kids asked Santa if he were tired after being up all night delivering toys, he said.

“I love it,” said Santa, aka Leroy Hawn, about the Christmas Day Dinner. “I look forward to it every year.”

All the food, decorations and help is donated, Bowers said, adding that there was no reason for anyone to leave the feast hungry and many took home leftovers. Overall, volunteers donated and cooked up:

• 43 turkeys,

• 23 hams,

• 400 pounds of potatoes,

• 120 large cans of yams,

• 300 pounds of bread, which was dried and made into dressing,

• 140 large cans of cranberries,

• about 150 gallons of gravy,

• more than 1,000 rolls,

• and hundreds of donated pies and desserts.

The dinner has grown since its first year, when it drew 64 people to the Wasilla Senior Center, Bowers said. For several years, he also made all the rolls himself, but the dinner has grown so much he can’t make them all from scratch anymore.

In addition to the hundreds who file into the Wasilla High School gymnasium, volunteer drivers also take meals to the homebound, Bowers said.

Area seniors really appreciate having a place to go on Christmas or seeing a smiling face bringing dinner to them, said Jeanne Gardner, a resident at the Wasilla Senior Center.

“This is the first time I’ve been here and it was great,” she said. “I got to see people I haven’t seen in months. I see a lot of seniors out today, and it’s good for them.”

Roger Hughes said the food was “wonderful,” and enjoyed the social atmosphere.

“I see people I haven’t seen for years,” he said, adding the effort reflects positively on Wasilla and the Mat-Su Valley. “It says we’re together and this is a loving, caring, giving community. It’s uplifting.”

Contact Greg Johnson at greg.johnson@frontiersman.com or 352-2268.