Fellowship served up for holiday
The Niagara Worship Centre served up food and fellowship Sunday during its annual Christmas Eve dinner and gift giveaway.
Upwards of 500 people attended the free event which included a traditional Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.
The Frederica Street church in 1992 offered a free Christmas Eve dinner to anyone who would otherwise be alone for the holidays. About 12 people attended the first event.
Twenty-five years later, that number has grown substantially. About 500 people attended the event last year.
This was the second year Doris Stark took on the role of chef for the Christmas Eve dinner.
“It went very well last year so I thought whatever is good for Niagara is good for me, so I wanted to do it again,” she said.
Omeid Deen volunteered at the 2016 dinner and found it so rewarding he joined the organizing committee this year.
“You want to be a part of the community at this time of year and you want do something for someone else,” he said.
An army of 70 volunteers assisted with the event, which included two seatings in order to accommodate crowds as well as a holiday service.
All of the food for the festive feast — including 35 turkeys which were cooked ahead of time at Club Italia and the Best Western Plus Cairn Croft Hotel — was donated, as well as more than 500 gifts.
The church issued a plea earlier this month asking for gift donations to ensure no one left the dinner without a present.
“The community came through for us … big time,” said Pastor Tim Klassen.
The event began as a way to ensure no one is alone at Christmas. That goal continues today.
“Our message to everyone is that there are people in this city who care about them and there’s a God who loves them,” Klassen said.