November 12, 2009

Planning under way for Christmas Eve dinner

By Kathy Ursprung
The Chronicle

     The Dalles’ big community Thanksgiving dinner has become a local institution since it was founded 21 years ago; now, Tracy and Mark Linebarger hope to generate the same kind of momentum for a community Christmas Eve dinner.
     The idea behind both dinners is that no one should have to be alone on these big, sentimental holidays if they don’t want to.
     Tracy Linebarger has been pounding the pavement this week posting flyers about the upcoming event, which she expects to be a bit lower key than the Thanksgiving version, with the idea being that people will enjoy conversation in lieu of big entertainment.
     “It’s for everybody,” she said. “We want everyone to feel welcome.
     “We’ll probably want to play some Christmas tunes in the background, so we can all hear each other talk.”
     She is taking donations at The Baldwin Saloon of small, unwrapped children’s gift items.
     “We are going to have a Santa for the kids to get in line and talk to Santa,” she said. “After they talk to Santa, they can pick out one thing from the toy table.”
     Linebarger is also looking to line up volunteers for the usual dinner duties, including food preparation starting at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24, both at The Baldwin and at St. Mary’s Academy, where the dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m.
     Other volunteer jobs to be filled include transporting food to St. Mary’s, receiving desserts donated by the community, setting up tables and chairs, serving, home delivery, clean-up and other jobs.
     “There’s a huge variety of things to do, if you’re interested,” she said.
     Mark Linebarger is working with The Baldwin’s vendors to see if he can get bargains on supplies for the event, she added, such as food, paper goods and printing. He is handling all the food planning.
     “Our standards are the same as they always are. Everything is going to be fresh.”
     And while the Linebargers aren’t actively soliciting cash donations, they won’t turn them down, either.
     “We aren’t setting it up to look for money,” she said, “but some people who really don’t have time to buy a toy or help sometimes want to give a financial donation.”
     For more information about how to help with the community Christmas Eve dinner, call the Linebargers at 296-3067 before 9 p.m.

Volunteer for Christmas
     Call Tracy Linebarger at 296-3067 to find out how to volunteer for the community Christmas Eve dinner. Donate small, new, unwrapped toys at The Baldwin Saloon before
Dec. 24.

Thanksgiving, too
     The popular community Thanksgiving dinner returns in its 21st year. To volunteer, call 296-6417. To have a meal delivered call 296-1106.