Volunteers serve up record number of free meals

Wasilla's 12th annual Friendship Dinner served more than 700 meals to the people of the Valley this Christmas, beating last year's record of 600 meals and almost running out of the moist turkey topping plate after plate at Wasilla High School on Thursday.

"The last turkey just came through the door," said the Friendship Dinner Committee chairman Bob Bowers. "Just in the nick of time."

Volunteers had cooked more than 400 pounds of turkey two evenings before, but 15 minutes before the end of the meal, which took place from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., the turkey was starting to run low.

"My landlord just showed up and brought a whole, cooked turkey with him," said Bowers, who helped start the dinner 12 years ago. Even with an increase of food being prepared this year, Bowers, who owns Country Kitchen, was afraid that they might run out of the bird of the hour. "It's just mushroomed, every year, we serve more and more."

The Lions Club started Wasilla's Friendship Dinner 12 years ago; it is now run by community members from all different groups and churches -- each year the community comes together to serve a free Christmas dinner to anyone that asks. It initially was located at the Wasilla Senior Center, but was moved to Wasilla High School three years ago when the fire marshal told the committee the senior center was too small for the numbers of people coming to eat. More than 600 people were served on site this year, and another 100 meals or so were delivered to people in the community that could not attend the event because of work or illness. Those who could not drive to the dinner were picked up and dropped off for free, as well. Every child received a gift and all of the food, gifts, decorations and even the use of the high school, were donated by people, businesses and government agencies in the Valley area. Aside from the precooked turkey, the dinner was cooked, served and cleaned up by numerous volunteers on Thursday; this year 117 signed up to help, but more came to the aide of the committee throughout the day.

"The thing is, we sign up volunteers during the year, but then people just show up and say 'I want to help,'" said Lana Gross, who has been volunteering at the dinner with her two sons for the last four years.

"It gives back to the community and I think its just the coolest thing," said Gross' son, Jesse, a 16-year-old Houston High School student who opened his Christmas gifts the night before in order to be at Wasilla High by 6 a.m. to start cooking.

Paul Trossel is the minister for children at the Wasilla Lake Church of the Nazarene, and is one of the four chair members in charge of the cooking. He said that 80 to 90 people worked shifts in the kitchen in order to help the cooks prepare the meals.

"We just tell them what to do and they just jump in," he said.

Sharon Younack is also one of the cooks and has been volunteering at the dinner for six years.

"It's tradition," she said. "We cook 400 pounds of turkey and then go home."

Along with individual volunteers, groups such as the Wasilla Borealis Lions Club, Wasilla Rotary, American Legion and AMVETS all help at the dinner. The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District waives the fee to use the high school, and district custodial staff volunteer their time to open up the school and help clean up at the end of the dinner.

"Every year I'm the last one out," said district employee Chad Randall. "I've got to set the code and do the alarm."

The committee stresses that this is not just a charity event; the Friendship Dinner is a community event that everyone is invited to join, no matter how much food is in your fridge or how much money is in your pocket. They are uniquely trying to embrace the true spirit of Christmas. While a sign that says 'Jesus is the reason for the season' hangs during the dinner each year, anyone of any faith is invited.

"This isn't just a soup kitchen, it's a community event," said committee chairperson Elsie O'Bryan. "We've got everyone here from Rep. Vic Kohring to families that may not have otherwise had a Christmas dinner. This event is for everyone."