Family serves up turkey, companionship

Anyone who’s lonely was welcome to attend annual Christmas dinner

The turkey dinner was nice, but John Hilt was just happy he didn’t have to spend another Christmas alone.

Hilt was among hundreds of people who came out for food and company Monday at an annual free Christmas dinner for anyone who wanted it.

“It’s nice to be around people instead of being alone,” said Hilt, 51. “I didn’t want to be alone. I hate being alone at any time of the year, but Christmas especially. If I can be around people, any chance I get, I’m there.”

The dinner was organized by Sabrina Dahl and her grown children. Dahl started volunteering 17 years so she would have something to do when her kids went to visit their father on Christmas.

“I needed something to do to keep myself occupied because I don’t have family,” said Dahl.

Now her children, Brandan, Lindsay and Josh, and her daughter-in-law Meghan, help host the event. The family started organizing and running the Christmas dinner four years ago.

This was their first year hosting it at the Masonic Temple on Ouellette Avenue.

It’s a dinner for anyone who needs a place to go on Christmas.

“We believe that everybody matters and nobody should ever have to spend Christmas alone,” said Dahl.

Volunteers give out gifts for children and adults, including toothbrushes, toothpaste, feminine hygiene products, blankets, toys, shampoo and backpacks.

“Backpacks are the big thing because the homeless carry all their things in their backpacks,” said Dahl.

She said organizers serve as many as 300 Christmas dinners. It’s all paid for through donations and fundraising.

“It gives me mixed emotions,” she said. “I’m glad that we can do this for them and give them a Christmas. That brings joy to my heart. But obviously, because they don’t have anybody and they’re here, it kind of saddens me a little as well.”

Ted Dalpy, who came in to eat around 12:30 p.m., said he heard about the dinner from a friend at the food bank.