CLEARLAKE, Calif. – The Rotary Club of Clear Lake will hold its 23rd annual Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 12.
The dinner will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Burns Valley School multipurpose room, 3620 Pine St. in Clearlake.
The story of how the event began goes like this: In 1992 one of the group's members, Dave Stoneberg, said, “Let’s do something for the community. Let’s serve Christmas dinner to all who want to attend. Let’s have it be no charge and let’s have Santa there to talk with the children.” And so it was.
The first year about 100 people attended. Santa had time to take a dinner break.
Fast forward 23 years to Dec. 12, when crowds of 900 to 1,000 community members are expected to enjoy a dinner prepared and served by Clear Lake Rotarians, and their family and friends.
Parents stand in line to accompany their children for a visit to share their Christmas wishes with Santa. They receive a photo and a toy from Santa’s elves; the elf corp includes local high school students from Carlé Continuation High School and Lower Lake High School.
Between 500 and 600 children per year pass through this line, faces light up, and smiles abound.
Dinner includes ham, scalloped potatoes, yams, vegetables and rolls. For dessert, pumpkin pie and chocolate chip cookies are served. Yes, you can go back for seconds – but that rarely happens because plates are filled to the brim the first time around.
Take home meals are available for a family member who cannot attend. Meals On Wheels delivers the warm meal to the seniors on their list.
There’s no charge; the dinner is the club's gift to the community.
The Warm for the Winter program continues this year as part of the event.
This is a free giveaway of new and gently used coats, warm clothing, sleeping bags and blankets held outside the building and available to all. Boy Scout Troop 44 will be on hand to assist. If you wish to contribute items, contact Joyce Overton at 707-350-2898.
Rotary Club of Clear Lake hosts Community Christmas Dinner and Celebration Dec. 12
- Lake County News reports
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