Christmas fun and food

Walter Sprague
Art and Culture Reporter
 
While others celebrated Christmas at home or visiting families, the Weston County Senior Center became the destination for many others during the annual Christmas Lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 25. Put on by Gateway Fellowship Church, 203 lunches were served at the center while 31 were taken home, for a total of 234 meals served this year. This is up considerably from last year, when a total of 175 meals were served.
“This is awesome,” Pastor Jon Anderson of Gateway said about the event, “Each year is gets bigger and bigger.” 
The lunch is now established as a Christmas tradition for many people in Newcastle. Started in 2003, originally the church provided Christmas meals for those in need. While that it is still the main focus, it has grown, not only in the number of people served, but in donated items and in volunteers. Now it brings in people of all walks, where fellowship, fun and games, and a meal is shared by everyone.
“People tell me that they are going to bring their whole family next year,” Anderson said. “I keep hearing what a great way it is to spend Christmas. Some tell me they couldn’t imagine Christmas without it now.” 
With rows of table set up with clothing, dishes, games, decorations and other items that are free to any who want to take them, it provides gifts for many who might not have them under their tree. And the outpouring of generosity by others has also grown each year. Many items are raffled off during the day from tools and art to rare decorations and novelties. And as the dinner is, the raffle is also free.
While the dinner is free to all, a donation jar was set up in the back, but it is not advertised. If anyone wanted to they could donate, but Anderson said that he didn’t want to foist this upon people. The idea was for the church to give back to the community without expecting anything in return. The food is ordered by the Senior Center, and the cost of the food, this year, was $469. Even without asking for donations Gateway took in $309. The rest of the food cost is provided by the church.
The meal consisted of turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, yams, and pies. Coffee and punch were also available. After the dinner there was a substantial amount of food that the kitchen gave out for people to take home as well. Very little food was wasted or thrown away. Anderson wishes to thank everyone who helped with the work, but especially to all those who came out to celebrate Christ’s birth with others. He said it is always a marvelous event and that it brings joy to many.