Free Christmas Dinner Marks 25th Year

For the 25th year, the annual Community Christmas Celebration Dinner will offer a free home-cooked turkey dinner with all the trimmings to anybody who needs it. The buffet dinner takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Day (Dec. 25) at St. Peter's United Methodist Church at Eighth Street and Central Avenue. "All are welcome," event organizers say. "Rich or poor, young or old, in need or in need of giving, far from home or just around the corner." Transportation can be provided to anybody who needs it, and take-outs are available. St. Peter's has access for the disabled and free parking. "For the past 24 years, my family and our community have been running a free Christmas dinner buffet on Christmas Day," Halley Martinez write on the Facebook event page for the dinner. "With the help of many volunteers and donations, we are able to provide hundreds of meals every year. After Hurricane Sandy, there was a much larger need last year, and with the generosity of the community and nearby towns, we were able to provide over 1,000 meals for those in need. This dinner is open to ANYONE, not just the poor. Apart from the huge buffet, there will be a gift table, live entertainment, desserts, and most importantly the company of other people in the community. We also offer deliveries in the local area to those who are unable to leave their house." Her parents, Mike and Peaches Lukens, started the event when they realized how blessed their young family was at Christmas time when others were in need. But the event has thrived over the years only with the time and generosity of many in the community.