Children, adults enjoy annual Christmas dinner
CONNELLSVILLE – Children and adults enjoyed the annual Christmas ham dinner Friday at the Connellsville Salvation Army Service Unit. Before and after their meal children visited with Santa and described in great detail what they want for Christmas.
Everyone enjoyed the ham dinner that featured scalloped potatoes, candied yams, green beans, rolls, coleslaw and strawberry shortcake, according to Salvation Army unit director Patty Handford.
Salvation Army senior field representative Chris Crow of Pittsburgh, who joined the Connellsville festivities from 10 a.m. until noon, said the local Salvation Army volunteers did a wonderful job.
“The volunteers knocked themselves out cooking and serving this dinner,” said Crow. “They did a fantastic job and I think everyone who came really appreciated the unit’s efforts.”
Chief cook and bottle washer Jim Smith and assistant cook Mabel Stamats said they began working on the dinner days before they served it.
“We baked 12 five-pound hams in preparation for the day,” said Smith. Handford said the group served about 200 dinners.
“There was standing room only on Thanksgiving,” said Handford. “I think we served between 350 and 400 people for Thanksgiving this year.”
Handford said the Christmas crowd is usually smaller, however.
“I don’t know why the numbers are usually down at Christmas time,” she said. “I guess it could be because other service organizations in the area also serve Christmas dinners on different dates and times.”
Handford said this is only the second dinner that she has hosted for the Salvation Army.
Smith said he has been involved with the dinner for 13 years. He also said that the service unit has been preparing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for more than 40 years.
“It’s so nice that different organizations throughout town donate to this worthy cause,” said Smith, who is the service unit’s kitchen manager. “As usual, the South Connellsville Rod and Gun Club donated the hams and we really appreciated it.”
Handford said without the volunteers they would not be able to have the dinner.
“My family was a big help for both dinners,” said Handford. “My husband, sons, daughter-in-law and her father all pitched in to help.”
Handford said the next big event would be the toy distribution on Dec. 22, 23 and 24 from 8 a.m. until noon.
“We have had a lot of donations this year for the toy drive,” she said. “We signed up 365 children and 283 food baskets.”
Handford said the baskets would be passed out at the same time as the toys.
Volunteer Bob Nicholson said everything went off without a hitch this year. He also said that the Salvation Army provides holiday meals for Easter.
Smith said he saw many familiar faces on Friday because the service unit serves daily meals.
“You know we serve lunch five days a week,” said Smith. “So after a while you get to know some of the regulars. It’s really nice to see so many people who really enjoy the meals.”
Four-year-old April Brooks of Dunbar and her mother, Lori Cossell, said they really enjoyed the dinner.
April also liked looking at Santa, but she really didn’t want to get too close to him. Santa tried to read her a book, but little April wasn’t buying it. She simply told her mother that she wanted to go home.