Feast of Friends
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Every Christmas there are people who may find themselves without family or close friends to celebrate the holidays with.
For the past several years, the Salvation Army in Tillsonburg has welcomed individuals spending Christmas alone to join them for their traditional ‘Feast of Friends’.
“It’s on Christmas day at 2 p.m. and we hold it at the Salvation Army church, 110 Concession street west,” said Donna Acre, Community Ministries Coordinator with the Salvation Army. “We just find that there’s a lot of people out there that are home alone for Christmas. We don’t want that to happen so we invite people to come out Christmas day and just enjoy the meal and have a good time.”
Last year approximately 125 people took part in the annual Christmas Day dinner, an increase of about 25 people from the previous year.
“It’s not just specifically for low income people – anybody can come to this,” she added. “If you’re going to be sitting alone, don’t. Give us a call and come on out.”
A buffet style turkey dinner will be served with all the trimmings, including punch, coffee, tea and dessert and usually begins at 2 p.m. and wraps up around 4 p.m. This year, there will be some added help preparing the delicious turkey dinner on Christmas day.
“This year we have two chefs – normally we have one chef and his family,” explained Acre. “Chef Ryan McLean has been coming in with his family, they’ve been doing the meal for a few years but this year, the chef that comes down to do the Cooking Without the Box, Chef Tracy Winkworth, has called and wants to come and help us with this, so she is coming this year as well.
“It’ll be a great meal.”
After dinner everyone gathers around and takes part in a holiday tradition of singing Christmas carols together, sharing in the true spirit and meaning of Christmas.
“Christmas is a great time of year for some, but for some it’s a terrible time of year,” said Acre. “It’s about being with your fellow man and just enjoying being together at Christmas.”