CHANNEL Community News

North Shore Community Christmas Dinner

Takapuna Methodist Church, Lake Road, 11.30am to 2pm – Christmas Day

On Christmas Day 2010, 240 dinners were served to guests at Takapuna Methodist Church. This is the 10th year of the event, supported by St. Peters (Anglican), St. Josephs (Catholic), St. Georges (Presbtyerian) all Takapuna churches.
This event is similar to the Mission Christmas Day dinner which used to be at the Town Hall, now Vector Arena. Organisers Christine and Brian Peak served their ‘apprenticeship’ by helping at the Town Hall 11 Christmas’ ago.
The atmosphere is always welcoming, warm and friendly, with the hum of a very friendly kitchen team in the background. Carol Gardiner and her family of ‘chefs’ have provided roast vegetables for everyone, and supervised the kitchen activities each year. As well as the 240 guests to serve, there are seven carvers, six servers, 60-65 hosts and hosteses, 12-15 car drivers, and eight dish washers, who also receive Christmas Dinners (Total 335-340 meals).
The Rotary Club of Milford has each year donated the Christmas Puddings and a car load of Christmas Presents. Financial donations are received from individuals within the supporting four
church congregations and St. Patricks Charity Classic and Milford Rotary Club.
The church congregations also volunteer to be hosts and hostesses, drivers to collect guests, dishwashers, parcel wrappers, donors of gifts and give very generously of themselves in time, enthusiasm and energy.
There is definitely a need on this part of the ‘Shore’ for a Community Christmas Dinner. The number increases each year and soon the present venue, Takapuna Methodist Church, will be in adequate.
Invitations are extended to anyone who would otherwise be alone on this special day to phone Angela, 489-4590 and leave your name and contact number if you would like to attend and if you
need transport.
We are looking for people to carry on this tradition. It is a great event and those involved receive huge pleasure in serving others and providing ‘good times’ for all those who attend.
We are looking for guests, hosts and hostesses, helpers prior to the day, Christmas gifts and donations of goods, time, kind and financial. Contact Angela, 489-4590.
– Christine Peak, convenor, Community Christmas Dinner.