And so this is Christmas.
A table laden with a feast fit for a king, a background of laughter and friendly banter, many hands ready to help, guests receiving gifts, and above all, a shared spirit of camaraderie and friendship.
The community Christmas dinner held at the Rimbey Legion had all of those ingredients and more as volunteers and those just looking for a place to go on Dec. 25 shared a few hours together.
“It went really well,” said Gayle Rondeel, who organized the event along with Harold Kenney. We had about 50 people there and enough food for about 2,000.”
Rondeel said cooks and kitchen help and volunteers all enjoyed the lovely dinner along with everyone else.
“It was really overwhelming the amount of support and help we received,” she said. “We had turkeys and hams, salads gravy, mashed potatoes, hot chocolate, eggnog and lots of other food. And the desserts; there were truffles and pies and cakes and squares and cookies, every kind of desert imaginable.”
Rondeel and Kenney came up with the idea of having a community Christmas dinner a couple of weeks ago and once the word got out, help began pouring in.
“It’s kind of like the concept, build it and they will come,” said Rondeel. It was a great day and I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
“This is what I feel Christmas is all about.”