By Donald Wittkowski
Joyce Popwell has been mourning the deaths of her mother and brother in the past two years and dreaded the prospect of spending this Christmas alone.
The 72-year-old retired hotel executive lives by herself in an Ocean City condominium, but instead of celebrating the holiday in solitude, she decided to head over to St. Peter’s United Methodist Church for some company.
Popwell was among hundreds of people who filled the historic church’s Fellowship Hall on Sunday for the Ocean City Community Christmas Dinner, a free meal that has been a local holiday tradition for nearly 30 years.
“I’m a people person. I don’t like to be alone,” Popwell said. “It is wonderful to be here, surrounded by so many people who are like one, big family.”
Joyce Popwell, who recently moved back to Ocean City after an 18-year hiatus, was among the hundreds of people at the dinner.
Popwell said the Christmas dinner embodies the same communitywide spirit that prompted her to move back to Ocean City in September after an 18-year absence.
“I never wanted to leave Ocean City,” she said, noting that she was pursuing her career in the hotel industry at that time. “I love Ocean City. I was treated so wonderfully 18 years ago. They were so thoughtful and gracious. I’ve met the same type of people here at this Christmas dinner.”
The community dinner began 28 years ago, founded by Peaches and Michael Lukens. They started the event when they realized just how blessed their family was at Christmas, when others were not so fortunate. The Lukens are still involved with the dinner, which is supported by donations from the city’s business community and local residents.
Typically, between 700 and 1,000 meals are served each year. The number was expected to be closer to 1,000 this year, said Halley Martinez, the Lukens’ daughter and one of the coordinators of the event.
“It’s basically a big community dinner,” Martinez said. “We have a lot of people who come here because they don’t have any family or don’t want to spend Christmas alone. We also have needy families, senior citizens and our volunteers who eat here.”
The festively decorated Fellowship Hall at St. Peter's United Methodist Church was packed with diners.
David French, an Ocean City resident and one of the volunteers, said the dinner has a strong social aspect to it. He noted that he spends much of his time talking to people and lifting up their spirits if they are lonely.
“It’s all about the spirit of giving,” said French, explaining why he has volunteered for about 10 years.
The dining room was packed Sunday afternoon. The buffet-style meal included turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and stuffing. An array of pastries and candies served as dessert.
Walter and Warren Bucks, 52-year-old twin brothers, and their 80-year-old mother, Carol Bucks, all of Linwood, have made the dinner a family tradition for the past 13 years. They said it often allows them to reunite with old friends, neighbors or relatives.
“It’s a great place to reconnect with people we haven’t seen in a long time,” Walter Bucks said.
“It’s especially good for people who don’t have any place to go for the holiday or are elderly,” Warren Bucks added.
Twin brothers Warren and Walter Bucks and their mother, Carol Bucks, all of Linwood, have made the dinner a family tradition for 13 years.
The dinner is organized through the local charity Christian Community Circle, with St. Peter’s United Methodist Church at Eighth Street and Central Avenue serving as the venue. Martinez stressed that the event was open to anyone who showed up.
“Ocean City is obviously a small town and a lot of people here know each other,” she said. “It’s a community event, so it’s like one, big community party.”
