Submitted

The seventh annual Community Christmas Dinner will be held Fri., Dec. 25, at the Hays VFW, 2106 Vine Street.

In its first year, the free dinner was held at the Hays National Guard Armory, according to Brittany Lang, dinner coordinator, where approximately 70 community members were served a Christmas dinner cooked and provided by volunteers.

Since then, the Community Christmas Dinner has been held at the VFW. The VFW has donated the venue for the dinner and is also donating the meal for the community. They men of the VFW donate their time on Christmas Day to prepare the meal, and enjoy the opportunity of giving back to the community.

The vision of the Community Christmas Dinner is to provide an atmosphere where the community can be gathered together to acknowledge and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas–celebrating the birth of Jesus. It is easy to be caught up in the season of Christmas and lose sight of why we truly celebrate it, and the dinner is a reminder of this. The dinner also provides a peaceful, family-friendly atmosphere where people from the community can experience fellowship and spend time with one another while enjoying a Christmas meal, whether coming alone or as a family. The dinner also allows members of the community to serve one another and be served–a reminder of Jesus and who He is, and what He has called us to do. Though Jesus is acknowledged, all are welcome and invited to the Community Christmas Dinner regardless of personal beliefs.

Last year, more than 650 community members were served at the dinner, including takeouts and deliveries.

Two lines will process through the serving area, with the option of an additional buffet if needed. The dinner will begin with a prayer at 11:00 a.m. and will continue serving until 1:00 p.m. This will allow families to enjoy a Christmas meal together, but will also allow them to continue with activities and other events planned for the rest of the day.

Approximately 60 volunteers served at the dinner last year, and are also needed for this year. Tasks include providing desserts, decorating, greeting, filling drinks, distributing desserts, clearing tables, clean-up, delivering meals, transporting community members, and making sure other needs are being met. Volunteers help to keep the dinner going each year and are vital to the dinner’s success. They are welcome to serve any portion of the day and can leave at any time.

This year, we are also asking for volunteers to provide desserts for the dinner.

If interested in volunteering, providing dessert, donating, or if needing transportation/delivery of meals, please contact Brittany at (785) 259-3766, or by email at [email protected]. As for donations received, they will be given back to the community, as donations, in areas seen as a need, as well as toward additional costs of the Christmas Dinner.