Church helps serve Christmas meals
Volunteers at First United Methodist Church at 200 E. North St. in Butler have been busily preparing this past week to serve more than 600 people on Christmas Day.
According to Cindy Ford, director of communication at the church, distributing a meal on Christmas Day has been their tradition for 51 years.
The meals went from in-person at the church to take-out and delivery only starting last year due to COVID-19 concerns. Ford said the purpose of the event has remained the same despite this change.
“When the dinner was initiated, it was to get people out of their homes who'd otherwise be alone,” Ford said. “The initial reason is so no one is alone on Christmas.”
The meals are prepared by volunteers and include ham, rolls, mashed potatoes and vegetables. Approximately 44 hams are being used to feed the 602 community members who registered for a meal.
Ray Christy, kitchen coordinator at the church, said that 230 dozen cookies were donated to go along with the meals from organizations like the YMCA. They also planned on receiving more holiday pies as donations.“We partner with a lot of local churches and the Y — it's the community pulling together,” Christy said.Community members will receive a gift bag filled with goodies, Christy said, in addition to their Christmas meal.“It's not just a meal,” Christy said. “It's a day for them.”Ford said 60 volunteers have made meal distribution possible this year by either cooking, delivering or packaging food.John Baycura said he's been helping at First United Methodist's Christmas meal for four years. This year, he's helping cook and prepare food.“It's fulfilling for me, to be honest with you, because it's a good cause,” Baycura said.Christy said the church does regular community meals often, as there is a need in the community.“There's a need for (this) in Butler city, and what an amazing thing to do after all God's done for us,” Christy said.
