(Facebook/Salvation Army North East Circuit)

By Angie Rolheiser

Christmas Dinner

Melfort Salvation Army hosting take-out Christmas Day dinner, volunteers needed

Dec 22, 2021 | 12:07 PM

The Salvation Army traditional Christmas dinner will be take-out style once again this year.

The hot meal will be served between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. for those who register prior to Dec. 25.

Captain Rick Robins says the meal is made possible this year by donations from local businesses and organizations.

“To know that it is taken care of means a lot for us and the people we serve,” Robins said. “We are grateful for the support that the community has given us over the year and making this a reality for our community.”

The SaskTel Pioneers sponsored the dinner, local producers are providing fresh potatoes, carrots, and vegetables, and the Prairie North Co-op is providing the turkeys.

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Volunteers are what is lacking this year according to Robins.

“Right now, I am down to five volunteers for the dinner, and I usually have more than 20,” Robins said. “I have enough volunteers for prep but I’ll need some help definitely on Christmas Day to come in to help with final stages of plating the meals.”

Delivery drivers are also needed to bring meals to those who are unable to pick-up.

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, around 100 meals would be served on Christmas Day. Last year, 168 meals were served.

“This year we were thinking about 200 but we aren’t too sure yet, but I do have food for between 150 and 200 people,” Robins said. “I have enough turkey and I have enough potatoes for 200 people.”

Registering for meals is as easy as calling the thrift store at 306-752-3525. If delivery is needed, an address needs to be left as well.

“We are cooking anyways so don’t go without this year,” Robins said.

Christmas hampers were dispersed last week to over 200 families in the Melfort area.

A stressful start to the week of packing hampers had volunteers concerned there wouldn’t be enough toys to go around but then the community came together to fill all the hampers.

“We made some calls for help and within a day and a half we had everything we needed,” Robins said. “Just shows how great of a community we live in and we band together and do what needs to be done.”

In Tisdale there were 67 hampers given out.

The Christmas kettle campaign continues until Friday afternoon.

“We are in the home stretch now and hoping to meet our goal this year so we look forward to seeing what will happen,” Robins said.

The goal for the northeast circuit of the Salvation Army kettle campaign is $70,000.

A candle light service will be held on Christmas Eve at the Melfort Salvation Army at 7 p.m. The community is invited to attend, sing some Christmas carols and light a candle.

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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser