Bandera family brings free Christmas dinner tradition to Norwich
NORWICH – For the first year Bandera Family & Community Alliance will expand its free Christmas dinner to the Norwich American Legion on Christmas day, offering a warm homemade meal and fellowship to anyone who needs it.
Since 1989 Bandera Family & Community Alliance has served a Christmas dinner in Binghamton, free and open to anyone in need of a meal or company for the holiday. This year it is expanding its offerings from Broome County to a location in Norwich, with free delivery options available as well as a sit-down location at American Legion Post 189 for residents of Chenango County.
"We want people to know we're there, they have someplace they can actually go to and have fellowship with other people, have a nice hot meal, and just enjoy the day should they not be able to afford it or they just don't want to be alone," said Bill Bandera, whose parents founded the Bandera Family & Community Alliance in 1989. "We'll provide them a nice place and make them feel like family."
Bandera said for the last five years, the free Christmas dinner has consistently served around 3,000 people, give or take a few hundred. When it began in 1989, it served 68 people; following the flood in 2011, it served about 4,300 meals to individuals on Christmas day. Last year it served meals at Binghamton American Legion Posts 80 and 89, the Endicott Boys and Girls Club, and various senior centers.
The alliance was founded by Bandera's parents, Bill and Carolyn, who were seeking a way to give back to the community. Bandera said when they founded it nearly 30 years ago, they probably didn't expect it would become the tradition it has become.
"It was just a heart thing," said Bandera. "The kind of people my parents were, they just wanted to give back to the community." He said he hopes this foundational year in Norwich will spark a tradition for local residents to look forward to every year.
If you would like to register to have a meal delivered on Christmas day, you can call the United Way helpline at 2-1-1 to log your name, address, location, and number of meals, which will then be forwarded to the Bandera Family & Community Alliance. Meals can be ordered until 5 p.m. on December 21.
The Bandera Family free Christmas dinner will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas day at American Legion Post 189 located at 29 Sheldon Street in Norwich. It is free and open to the public.
If you are interested in volunteering to assist with the dinner, call the Bandera Family & Community Alliance volunteer hotline at (607) 231-0706. Donations to the cause can be made at www.banderachristmas.com/donate/.
For more information about the Bandera family free Christmas dinner, visit www.banderachristmas.com.
Since 1989 Bandera Family & Community Alliance has served a Christmas dinner in Binghamton, free and open to anyone in need of a meal or company for the holiday. This year it is expanding its offerings from Broome County to a location in Norwich, with free delivery options available as well as a sit-down location at American Legion Post 189 for residents of Chenango County.
"We want people to know we're there, they have someplace they can actually go to and have fellowship with other people, have a nice hot meal, and just enjoy the day should they not be able to afford it or they just don't want to be alone," said Bill Bandera, whose parents founded the Bandera Family & Community Alliance in 1989. "We'll provide them a nice place and make them feel like family."
Bandera said for the last five years, the free Christmas dinner has consistently served around 3,000 people, give or take a few hundred. When it began in 1989, it served 68 people; following the flood in 2011, it served about 4,300 meals to individuals on Christmas day. Last year it served meals at Binghamton American Legion Posts 80 and 89, the Endicott Boys and Girls Club, and various senior centers.
The alliance was founded by Bandera's parents, Bill and Carolyn, who were seeking a way to give back to the community. Bandera said when they founded it nearly 30 years ago, they probably didn't expect it would become the tradition it has become.
"It was just a heart thing," said Bandera. "The kind of people my parents were, they just wanted to give back to the community." He said he hopes this foundational year in Norwich will spark a tradition for local residents to look forward to every year.
If you would like to register to have a meal delivered on Christmas day, you can call the United Way helpline at 2-1-1 to log your name, address, location, and number of meals, which will then be forwarded to the Bandera Family & Community Alliance. Meals can be ordered until 5 p.m. on December 21.
The Bandera Family free Christmas dinner will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Christmas day at American Legion Post 189 located at 29 Sheldon Street in Norwich. It is free and open to the public.
If you are interested in volunteering to assist with the dinner, call the Bandera Family & Community Alliance volunteer hotline at (607) 231-0706. Donations to the cause can be made at www.banderachristmas.com/donate/.
For more information about the Bandera family free Christmas dinner, visit www.banderachristmas.com.
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