News : Vinton Presbyterian Church to hold 6th Annual Christmas Dinner

    The Vinton Presbyterian Church will hold its sixth-annual free Christmas dinner from 12-2 PM  in what has become a tradition for both the church and the community.

    It all began in 2014 after a then-new Pastor Jessica Crane-Munoz saw a need in the area to help serve people who might ind themselves alone at the holidays. And she drew the inspiration from nearby.

    "I don't like to admit that I brought this program from another church, but that's the case here," Crane-Munoz said. "At that time, there was a free Thanksgiving dinner here in town but there was not one for Christmas.  I felt there was a strong need in the community for folks who were alone on the holidays.  Presbyterians have a median age across the country of about 67 - that means we have a lot of folks who are widowed, who have children living far away, or who can't get out of their homes for the holidays due to illness and mobility issues.  I believed that we could fill that gap.  And we did.  

    "That first year," she added, "we were really concerned about funding and we asked every member in the congregation if they could bring one or two items totally less than $5 total.  Everyone pitched in.  It was amazing.  We also used money from the annual sign-up that Farmers Savings Bank does and with that we began.  The first year we had a lot of participants, more than many folks expected.  We continued offering the dinner each year and the program has grown. I think the first year we were between 75 and 100.  The second year closer to the 125 range, and then we moved quickly up to around the 200 mark.  I believe we've stayed in that range for the past few years.  We do meal deliveries to the homebound and we often have folks who will ask if they can take a meal to go with them to give to a neighbor or friend who can't get out of their home."

    The meal as become a rewarding part of the Christmas holidays for the Pastor and her congregation, as many members put in long hours volunteer time on Christmas Day, as well as the time leading up the big day. 

    "There are several parts that are rewarding," Crane-Munoz. "I enjoy spending Christmas doing something other than staring at a tree, eating too much junk food, and kicking wrapping paper around the living room.  The purpose of Christmas celebrating goes so much farther than the gifts on Christmas morning.  For me, being here and participating in the dinner makes me feel like I am more connected with Christ.  As we have continued to offer the dinner we have seen a repeat in volunteers each year.  Several families now routinely volunteer and we are spending Christmas as a community working together."

    But like anything done by a committee, there are always snags in the system, but Crane-Munoz said that they always find a way to make it work, despite the challenges of feeding upwards of 200 people in two hours. 

    "We have a short memory as a congregation!" she said. "Every year we forget what went well and what we said we'd improve in the year to come.  So there is always a bit of juggling as we get things squared away.  It sometimes feels like people attended totally different events by the differences in recollection.

On a personal level, I have had challenges in trying to balance time with my family on Christmas with small children at home versus my desire to be here with my church family," Crane-Munoz added.  "My children are still too young to be volunteers (at 4.5 and 1.5) and one has an immune disorder so we have to be very cautious of germs.  I wish I could be fully at both places at once but since that's not possible, I spend early Christmas morning with my family, go down to the church for a couple hours, and then go back home.  I look forward to the day when, with God's grace, we can all volunteer together."

    Serving will take place from 12 noon to 2 p.m. in the church's Fellowship Hall at 608 First Avenue in Vinton. Free will donations are appreciated. For deliveries, call the church office at 319-472-3766 and leave a message.