O come, all ye Christmas dinner donors
Volunteers, benefactors needed for annual tradition at church
If Christina Parkhurst didn’t believe in Santa, she might be worried that she only has $800 toward the $25,000 Christmas dinner she hosts every year for hundreds of people.
But Parkhurst does believe in Santa — in the form of big-hearted volunteers, generous donors and individuals who will buy gifts for children.
Her only concern? That all those donors and volunteers step forward soon.
“It seems like there’s a five-year cycle that we get in a little bit of trouble trying to figure out how we’re going to create this … experience of magic and miracles,” Parkhurst said.
The 25th Christmas Spirit Community Dinner will be held Dec. 25 at Glad Tidings Church. Those who attend often are alone or for financial reasons or otherwise, would not be able to have a holiday dinner, Parkhurst said.
The charitable event is non-denominational and open to anyone.
Inside the church are two formal sit-down Christmas dinners for about 225 people each at noon and 3 p.m. seatings.
Outdoors, there’s a bratwurst barbecue and refreshments for more than 300 people who happen to drop by between 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m.
The first dinner in 1991 hosted about 75 people. Today it serves more than 750 people, including 250 children, who are given gifts. The dinner now has full charity status.
“It started with my desire to make a difference at the age and ability that I was then as a server and university student,” Parkhurst said, adding that she and her brother worked together for the dinner’s first 10 years.
“I came from a really loving family. My dad used bring home hitchhikers and my mom would feed them, so I saw that way of making a difference growing up.”
Raymond James Ltd. investment dealers stepped forward this week with an offer to match donations to the community dinner up to a total of $12,500.
“They are so enthusiastic; they are really great people,” Parkhurst said. “I expect a miracle every year and they are definitely it.”
Chris Raper, senior vicepresident at the Victoria branch of Raymond James Ltd., said his company feels that helping out is “the right thing to do.”
“We’re a pretty blessed bunch in terms of the peo- ple who work for Raymond James and the people we serve,” he said.
Raper said he had heard that Parkhurst was struggling this year to get the donations needed to host the Christmas dinner and welcomed the opportunity to help.
“We are delighted to get behind her,” Raper said. “She does such a fantastic job and has such a heart.”
A businessman who chooses to remain anony- mous will pay for all 50 turkeys needed, Parkhurst said. Level Ground trading company sponsors the coffee. For Good Measure bulk food store in Cadboro Bay also contributes to the meal.
Parkhurst has almost all the volunteers — her “mighty elves” — needed to help with the dinner, but needs people to help with cleanup. She also needs the use of three cube vans.
She credits a strong board of directors and vol- unteers — she’s had volunteers stay with her up to 20 years — for making the dinners a success.
Her own children, ages 15 and 13, have grown up helping with the dinner.
“That’s their Christmas,” she said.
The dinner serves up turkey cooked by Truffles Catering but it also satiates a more profound kind of hunger.
“Food is somewhat secondary, to needing love and community,” Parkhurst said.
“When someone knows they are loved and accepted and there’s a place to go and they don’t have to explain themselves or their circumstances … we can all just have a great time together.”
People who want to register for the dinner, donate or volunteer for any aspect can do so by emailing xmasdins@telus.net or calling 250-472-1040.