Community Meals Ministries anticipates large turnout for Christmas meal
The president of nonprofit Community Meals Ministries anticipates 1,200 reservations for hot takeout and delivery meals on Christmas, which is close to double the number of reservations last year.
Volunteers were prepping desserts and other cold items Friday, Dec. 19, at Butler Global Church in anticipation of Friday’s community meal and the nonprofit’s Christmas meal.
Reservations for Christmas meals are due Monday, Dec. 22, and can be made by calling 724-287-0454 or emailing cmmfriday@gmail.com.
“This past year has been when (the need) has really increased,” said Ray Christy, president of Community Meals Ministries and the kitchen coordinator for Butler Global Church.
He added the nonprofit served around 720 meals on Christmas last year.
The meals can be picked up from 10 a.m. to noon on Christmas at Butler Global Church at 200 E. North St. The menu includes ham, stuffing, cheesy potatoes, corn, coleslaw, bean salad or apple sauce, rolls, drinks and desserts.
The nonprofit is also still looking for donations of Christmas cookies, hams and money, which can be delivered between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. It’s also still welcoming volunteers.
Christy said he had already collected about 150 dozen cookies around 11 a.m. Friday and is aiming to have 500 dozen by Christmas. About 85 dozen were donated by friends and family of Ladonne Guerra in her memory, Christy said.
The nonprofit partnered with Butler Area School District to send fliers about the free Christmas dinner home with every elementary school student in the district, which equated about 2,900 fliers.
Christy said the nonprofit also partnered with the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority to spread the word to low-income families, seniors, widows and whoever may need it.
If there are any leftovers after serving hours on Christmas, Christy said drivers will deliver them to nearby truck stops for truckers who cannot be home with their families on Christmas.
“We’ve always said if we got the opportunity, we’d help out … it’s our Christmas now,” Christy said.
Christy has overseen the community meals in Butler for seven years and has led the team preparing the Christmas dinner for six years. He’s been involved in serving community meals for about 14 years.
Coming from his background in the restaurant industry, Christy redesigned the community meals kitchen to operate more like his former catering business so hot food can be served within 30 minutes of being made.
He anticipated serving around 425 meals at Friday night’s community meal, which would be an increase of around 100 meals served at this time last year.
Christy said most people utilizing the community meals are using them to supplement what they can give to their families. He said an extra night or two of free community meals for a family can free an extra $20 for gas or other bills.
He added the number of meals served normally grows throughout the month as people have less leftover money from paying bills. He said while he anticipated 425 meals for Friday night, he served closer to 290 on a Friday in the beginning of the month.
The number of families needing community meals also will rise after the new year, Christy said. He said the combination of colder weather, larger utility bills and Christmas debt leads to a need for more meals.
None of the food goes to waste, Christy said. Most of the food is donated from community members and businesses.
“God always handles it. He really does,” Christy said.
