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The weather outside may be frightful, but the atmosphere inside couldn’t be warmer at the LSCO on Christmas Day for its annual Christmas dinner.
All it takes is approximately 25 turkeys, six hams, between 150-250 pounds of potatoes, the hard work of 30-40 dedicated volunteers and a month’s worth of planning. The end result is a whole lot of Christmas spirit.
“It takes a lot of work, but over the years it has become a lot easier,” said Tim Troman, Lethbridge Seniors Centre Organization’s food services co-ordinator. He has been running the Christmas dinner for the past 17 years.
It is a come-and-go event running between 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. on Christmas Day which is open to everyone. Rides are available but must be arranged no later than Dec. 19 at 4:30 p.m. by calling 403-320-2222. Wheelchairs can not be acommodated.
“There are turkeys, ham, taters, vegetables, dressings and desserts — the whole bit,” Troman said.
The LSCO and their members put on the annual dinner, which has been a Lethbridge mainstay for at least 30 years.
“It’s a mixture of people who come,” he said. “It’s a variety: LSCO members, widowed and single people and people who don’t have any family nearby to cook for and who don’t want to cook a turkey for just two people. We also get a lot of the less fortunate.”
The numbers vary each year between 300 and 800 people.
“We’re planning for more this year because I’m expecting the weather to be bad and people tend to stay close to home when the weather is bad,” he continued.
“The LSCO is a nice place to come and spend Christmas.”
There is a dedicated core of volunteers who return every year to help out.
“It’s basically orchestrated by two cooks. We get volunteers to carve turkeys and serve. Our volunteers are so good that they almost don’t even need to be told what to do,” Troman continued.
They also put together Christmas goodie bags that include homemade cookies, candy canes and other Christmas treats.
“We get a lot of people who come back year after year after year, so it’s like one big family. Some come to eat and others come to help out. It’s made for some good friendships.”
Troman has enjoyed working the LSCO Christmas dinner for the past 17 years.
“When they hired me, they told me this is just something the LSCO does.”
The dinner hasn’t changed other than the process has become a lot more streamlined.
He enjoys the camaraderie between everyone involved. “The spirit of Christmas really is right here. The people are wonderful.”
While anyone can come and go for dinner, volunteers need to register in advance to keep the LSCO from being overwhelmed with helping hands.
“We’re almost at capacity for volunteers this year,” he said.
Donations of cash and turkeys are always welcome for the event.
Preparations for the dinner begin in early December.
“At the beginning of December, we start preparing. We give goodie bags to everyone, so we bake cookies and put together candy canes and oranges. It’s a month-long project, but every year it gets a little easier.” |
