First Presbyterian Church in Manitowoc has been hosting community meals every Wednesday night since 2008, and tonight, the church parking lot on North 8th Street will be the scene of a Community Christmas Dinner from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.
Pastor Matt Sauer of Manitowoc Cooperative Ministry, which is comprised of First Presbyterian & Peace United Church of Christ on Waldo Boulevard tells SeehaferNews.com that, because of COVID-19, this year’s dinner will be a drive-through. Sauer says they will prepare 300 meals for pickup.
He explained that “We have people in our community who are longing for deeper friendships, and human connection…as well as people who are actually hungry, more so this year during the pandemic time with economic changes.”
Over 40% of Manitowoc County residents are considered “food insecure”, so the need is definitely there. Sauer says they have incredible community partners who are providing & preparing all the food for the drive-through dinner.
“The main sponsor this year is Felician Village,” he said. “They are preparing all the food in their kitchen and bringing it over for us.”
The menu includes turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, fruit salad, and pumpkin pie. In addition, Pastor Sauer said Santa and Mrs. Claus will have special bags for kids and John Jagemann has volunteered to be a deejay and play Christmas music in the parking lot.
Sauer said that this tradition means so much to a lot of people.
“There are people who have tears in their eyes because they know that this s something that they wouldn’t be able to do any other way,” he explained. “Both with the food and with the comradery, it makes Christmas for several of our volunteers. They come back every year because they say this is what makes Christmas real for them.”
There is going to be a free-will offering for those picking up a meal this evening.
With the 40-plus volunteers Sauer quipped “all I get to do is smile at those in attendance and wave to them.”
There’s always room for more volunteers, he said, but if you plan on coming to help out, he asked that you call the church office at 682-4688.
