Dedicated helper able to sit down for lunch
For three decades Carol Fisher has served at the community Christmas lunch in New Plymouth but this year was the first time she got to sit and eat with the crowd.
Fisher was among the group of volunteers who, inspired by a similar event in Auckland, organised the first ever Christmas meal at St Joseph’s Church and has been involved ever since.
She used to be the staff convener but this Christmas was the first year the 82-year-old has stopped volunteering and enjoyed the lunch.
‘‘This is the first time I’ve sat in the crowd.’’
Before the first Christmas lunch was held the group had asked themselves ‘‘Is it worth while holding community Christmas lunch in New Plymouth?’’, Fisher said.
And her answer now? ‘‘God yes’’. However, Fisher said she would never have guessed it would last so long. ‘‘We didn’t know if anyone would show up. We thought where do we even start?’’
Yesterday, around 200 people filled the hall and lined up to get their helping, including special guests Santa and Mrs Claus, their chief elf and New Plymouth Mayor Neil Holdom.
To mark the special occasion a birthday cake was also prepared and Fisher, along with former politician Harry Duynhoven, got to cut it.
Fisher said people from all walks of life attended the celebration. ‘‘More and more people joined over the years. It’s fun, I’ve loved every part of it.’’
Fisher’s daughter Morag Snelgrove, 46, has picked up where her mother left off, taking over organising the volunteers.
‘‘I love it.’’
Snelgrove said her mother used to be so committed to the cause that she only managed to get Fisher to visit one Christmas while Snelgrove was living in Tauranga. ‘‘It took a lot of convincing too.’’