Contributed by Justin Giles
About 8 years ago, I found myself home alone and bummed out on Christmas day. I had recently been through a bitter divorce, and the wife and kids were elsewhere. Loneliness stings. Out of nowhere I received a call from a friend who invited me to come down to the Menard Center for a free Christmas dinner. I thanked him but resisted, thinking I would be taking limited food in a soup line that should be going to someone more financially needy. He insisted that was not the case and said, “if you don't get down here, I'll come getcha!” I relented, not wanting to offend my friend mainly, and somewhat annoyed, headed to the Menard.
That decision, I must honestly say, changed my life. The crowd was massive on the large turf. Dozens of uniformly and festively decorated tables were covered and aligned with military precision. On the stage a tuba band was jovially belting out “Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer” which made me chuckle as I recalled the most famous line from a certain Chevy Chase movie. The air was filled with the aromas of ham, turkey and pumpkin pie. Everywhere people were eating from plates heaped with food, smiling and laughing... and talking to their valley neighbors. We're a motley crew here in Alaska, and some of us are definitely more motley than others. I saw picture perfect families searching out and sitting around some of the more motley looking people who were sitting by themselves, their faces lighting up with genuine heartfelt smiles. I saw little kids delivering pie and coffee to apparent widows who reached out and hugged them. Someone over the microphone yelled “Happy Birthday Jesus!” and the crowd cheered. The feeling of community at this event is hard to put into words.
The Wasilla Christmas Friendship Dinner is a tradition that was started by Bob and Judy Bowers and a few close friends nearly 30 years ago. It has steadily grown into, we believe, the largest event of its kind in the nation. About 600 volunteers prepare around 800 pounds of ham, 150 turkeys, hundreds of pies and enough fixings to serve over 5,000 meals. A fleet of buses picks up people in need of rides and brings them to the Menard Center. Hundreds of meals and gifts and more importantly visitors are delivered to the lonely home bound. The logistics of this completely volunteer-run event are massive. Organizational meetings begin in February. Hundreds of volunteers donate their whole Christmas day to make this happen. Many donate dozens of hours helping prepare and clean up. Some like Bob and Judy Bowers donate many hundreds of hours throughout the year.
An event this size also requires money and material donations to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Last year an ATV and enough cash to pay the federal prize taxes was raffled off to help raise these funds. This year with the generous support of the Palmer Elks Lodge, the Christmas Friendship Dinner is running a cash raffle with a $2000 first prize, $1500 second, $1000 third and three $500 prizes. The drawing will be held at an all ages dinner/silent auction party with an open bar and mobile DJ. The Elks deck overlooking Finger Lake alone is worth the visit. Some great silent auction prizes donated by the community include training by Point Blank Firearms, a fishing trip courtesy of Kenai River Drifter's Lodge, and passes to Fly Trampoline Park in Wasilla.
When: July 21st from 3-10pm. Drawing at 6PM, Silent auctions close about 7.
Where: Palmer Elks Lodge, 2600 N. Barry's Resort Drive Wasilla
What: $10 Pulled Pork/Southern Coleslaw/Dessert Dinner, Raffle Drawing, Silent Auction
The Wasilla Friendship Dinner is the feelgood event of the year here in the Mat-Su. The event is far more than just the sum of its considerable parts. Jesus taught to give to the poor, visit the lonely and love one another. You can do all three every Christmas at the Menard. Please consider having dinner July 21st with your valley neighbors, to help with this year's fundraising. For more information visit christmasfriendshipdinner.org or call (907) 373-8663.
If you don't get down there, I'll come getcha. :)
