Westminster Presbyterian’s Christmas Dinner returns to its in-person roots

By JEFF REINITZ – Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Iowa (TNS)

WATERLOO — A local Christmas tradition is returning to its roots this year.

Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Christmas Dinner is scaling back on the pickup option to concentrate on its in-person meal for 2024.

“We want to focus on people that need a meal or would otherwise be alone for Christmas,” said organizer Jodi Fabrizio.

Reservations for the meal are closed. The deadline was Dec. 13.

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Mike Obermeier, right, hands off a plate to Mike Flaherty as they help fill to-go Christmas dinners at the annual Westminster Christmas dinner Dec. 25, 2015, in Waterloo.

The Christmas Dinner has been a staple at the church for more than four decades. Over the years the drive-through pickup alternative gained in popularity, surpassing attendance for the sit-down event. The meal went pickup-only during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This year, the dinner will serve 170 people at the church, Fabrizio said. Another two dozen people who are homebound and unable to travel will have cold meals reserved for pickup.

Hy-Vee is catering the event, and the menu will include turkey, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, green beans, roll and pumpkin pie.

Dolly’s Transportation will provide rides for anyone without transportation.

Cedar Valley mourns loss of dedicated community advocate Bob Brown

He leaves behind a legacy of compassion and empathy, including organizing free community Christmas dinners and extensive involvement in numerous organizations and charities.

The community dinner is a central project for Westminster’s mission committee. Planning for the event usually starts shortly after the prior dinner is over and begins to ramp up in November. This year’s endeavor involves about 35 volunteers.

The first meal was organized by Bob and Betty Brown in 1981 as part of a Sunday school project with about 50 people in attendance. Some of the subsequent years served upwards of 500 to 700 meals through in-person and pickup.

12 Cats of Christmas 2024

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