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Community dinner a success

Jan 4, 2011 | 5:23 AM

It took 32 turkeys to feed the community as part of the Community Christmas Dinner.

The numbers from the annual Christmas Day event are in and according to co-ordinator the event was a success.

“It really went well this year,” Isabelle Impey said.

“The place was absolutely full most of the afternoon.”

There were a few changes that made this year even better than those previous, she said.

Activities were available for children throughout the afternoon and there was a youth choir.

“That gave it a different mood in terms of people being encouraged to stay for as long as they want, it’s not just, eat and run. It’s eat and enjoy yourself and be with people, be with others during Christmas,” Impey said.

You could see people singing along with the choir, she said.

About 100 volunteers sign up to work over the three days of preparation, the day of and deliveries of leftovers on Boxing Day.

“I think that is so incredible,” she said.

Nearly $11,000 was donated to the Community Christmas Dinner, including a cheque recently received from someone who had received a plate of food on Christmas Day.

“We have money to start off with next year. We won’t spend it, we’re just going to hang on to it and just let it build a little interest and if we ever come through a hard time where there wasn’t enough money we’ll have some put away … because we can’t quit, we got to keep going,” Impey said.

Impey said she was thrilled by the success of the event and the support from the community.

“It was successful because of the generosity of people in Prince Albert,” she said.

ahill@panow.com

Community Christmas Dinner by the numbers

– 32 turkeys
– 30 hams
– 15 bags of potatoes
– 100 volunteers
– 2,000 people who received food
– one choir