Grant High and Mary and Rick Williams have helped put together a community Christmas dinner since 2010. The dinner is free for everyone." />
Grant High and Mary and Rick Williams have helped put together a community Christmas dinner since 2010. The dinner is free for everyone.
Grant High wanted to start a tradition to do something more for Eudora and make Christmas more meaningful.
Fourteen years later, that tradition continues as a group of residents will host the annual community Christmas dinner on Monday.
The free dinner at Eudora Baptist Church is open to anyone in the community. The dinner is not associated with the church, but is hosted in the building.
Food is provided starting at noon until food runs out. Take-out containers are available for those unable to attend.
The dinner brings out 75 to 100 people each year, but the team is trying to market more this year in hopes of attracting more.
High said they know there are more people who spend Christmas alone, don’t have the means to cook a full dinner or just don’t have family in town, and he hopes more will come out to enjoy the holiday.
High said the ultimate goal is to build a better sense of community and connect old Eudora with new Eudora.
“We created it for everybody because people have their social and emotional needs also,” High said. “It’s important to them to be able to connect on Christmas Day.”
Rick and Mary Williams have been involved with the dinner since High had the idea to start it in 2010.
Their son passed away on Christmas Eve in 2009, and helping with the dinner connected them with the community while spending time with others.
For so many, Christmases are a joyous holiday, but also sometimes sad, Rick Williams said.
“It helps us through the holiday,” Mary Williams said.
Both agreed it gives them an opportunity to do something, and it’s something they enjoy.
Mary grew up with huge 70-person Christmas gatherings, and having this dinner feels like bringing that back.
The dinner attendees and the organizers have become a family of their own, High said.
“What would we do if we weren’t having dinner together on Christmas Day?” High asked Rick and Mary. “It wouldn’t seem right at this point.”
Mary spends a whole day making 30 pounds of mashed potatoes. She was already discussing with the team that she may need to make a couple of extra batches with all the marketing they’ve done this year. That means she’ll also have to get some extra pies, too.
The High family makes three turkeys and the stuffing. There will be ham, all the sides, desserts and drinks.
There are usually plenty of leftovers, and High tries to take meals to those working at the gas stations in town or sends food home with people.
Amy Gabriel got involved because she wanted her three kids to see there is more to Christmas than Santa and gifts.
Now, her kids look forward to helping serve guests and run the dessert table every year. It’s also helped their communication skills to talk to community members, she said.
The family has now been involved since 2019. Gabriel also cooks for the event.
“I just love the fact that nobody has to be alone. For whatever reason, you don’t have Christmas at your own house, just come,” she said. “No judgment, just come.”
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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