For more than 30 years, the Columbia Lions Club and Sunsnappers have been providing free Christmas dinner food boxes to the community. A pandemic wasn't going to stop that, said John Meshey, project coordinator.
"There is a need for this in our community," he noted. "This year, a lot of people are hurting."
Christmas dinner boxes will be delivered to the community on Sunday, Dec. 20. The deadline to register for a box is Friday, Dec. 4, and early registration is encouraged. To register, readers may email ColumbiaChristmasFoodBoxes@gmail.com or call 717-715-3592.
Each box will contain the fixings for a traditional Christmas meal, Meshey said. "It will include a turkey, bread, milk, potatoes, canned vegetables, stuffing and a few other items," he stated.
The organizations expect to pack 700 boxes for families in the Columbia and surrounding areas, he noted, adding that the event has grown significantly over the years.
"When this started about 35 years ago, we had one family we helped," Meshey recalled. "We knew there were people who could use something over the holidays to brighten their day. It just grew from there, and this year especially, we're really happy to be continuing the tradition."
COVID-19 has changed a few things about the operation, he said, including how the boxes will be packed.
"We are looking for community groups to sign up to pack boxes the Friday and Saturday before we distribute them," he explained. "We want people to schedule a time to come in and help so that we can keep the groups small."
On delivery day, a system will be set up to limit contact as much as possible, Meshey said.
"When people come to help deliver the boxes, we're going to load up their car and then they'll go off and deliver," he said. "They won't be going inside anyone's home. They'll leave the box on the porch."
He said it was important that the tradition of delivering the boxes continued, despite the pandemic.
"What makes our event unique is that we actually deliver," he noted. "There are places people can go and stand in line to get a meal, but we bring the meal right to the people that are in need."
The Columbia Lions Club and Sunsnappers raise money all year to pay for items in the boxes, he said, as well as relying on donations from community organizations, businesses and individuals.
In addition to the box delivery, the groups have joined forces with Foresters of America to provide Christmas dinner to residents of area senior apartments and communities, including Trinity House, St. Peter Apartments, Our Home of Hope, Marietta Senior Apartments, Brereton Manor and Sylvan Retreat. Those meals will be delivered on Sunday, Dec. 27.
"We are happy to provide a service to the people of Columbia," Meshey said. "We want to help people in need."
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