The Ladner Community Kitchen is getting ready to host its eighth annual Christmas Dinner on Monday, Dec. 12.
It's set to run from 6 to 9 p.m. at Ladner Christian Fellowship, 5545 Ladner Trunk Rd.
What started as a small celebration of 20 to 30 people, mainly food bank recipients, in 2009 has now grown to about 100 guests attending an event that features a sumptuous turkey dinner, music, carol singing and a gift table.
Christmas can be very lonely for those without family and friends. Therefore, the Ladner Community Kitchen welcomes anyone who would like to share in some Christmas cheer. Those wishing to attend should call 604-946-1967 well in advance to reserve a spot as seating is limited to 100 people.
The Ladner Community Kitchen operates as an arm of the South Delta Food Bank, and a team of dedicated volunteers serves soup and sandwiches to those who visit the food bank every Wednesday.
The dinner has the support of many in the community, including Pastor Danny Stebeck of Ladner Christian Fellowship, police Chief Neil Dubord and a host of community sponsors.
The Ladner Community Kitchen could not operate without the dedication of volunteers Peggy Young, Jeanette Neutche, Shirley Brown, Lynne Bernat, Lise Andres, Jean Peloquin, Kate Sauberli and Charlene Taylor.
Al and Phyllis Warwick at the Sundance Pub, Augustine House and Raymond James Ladner offer continued support.
The role of the community kitchen is to provide extra services, such as serving soup, sandwiches and other fresh food items, that cannot be handled by the food bank. It depends on donations and community support.
Those who wish to help can do so in two ways: Donating local grocery store gift cards to purchase perishable items such as fresh fruit for distribution on a weekly basis.
Contributing Save-On-More points at the Save-On-Foods in Ladner. Every 1,000 points donated earns $1 and is matched by Save-On.
Donations to the kitchen can be dropped off at the Ladner Christian Fellowship office on weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m.
