Bandera Free Christmas Dinner in Norwich serves over 700 meals
NORWICH – Organizers of the Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner are calling their first offering in Norwich a success thanks to the large number of volunteers who showed up to make it possible.
Volunteers at the first Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner in Norwich prepared 1,000 meals for Christmas Day, 730 of which were served via delivery or at the Norwich American Legion Post 189. The remaining 270 meals were donated to nursing homes in the area.
"The people attending the dinner were so grateful, I think especially the people who we delivered to who would have been unable to, not only have a warm holiday meal, but also unable to get to the legion for the free one we were serving," said Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner Norwich Volunteer Coordinator Brianna Curley. "I heard several times that they wouldn't have known what to do if we didn't have this dinner and how thankful they were, so we'll definitely keep it going."
As for the number of volunteers who helped make it possible, Curley said she wouldn't know where to begin guessing; over 100 people signed up to volunteer and several others showed up over the weekend before Christmas to do whatever they could to help.
"It was just amazing everyone did whatever they could to help," said Curley. "Some people that planned on attending the dinner to eat even brought a box or two of cookies when they heard we needed them. It was touching to see a whole community come together and love each other as family."
The Banderas extended their heartfelt thanks to the Norwich community in a Facebook post, saying, "Words cannot describe the copious amount of love and compassion that have come from this community in the days leading up to and at the Christmas Dinner ... From the organizations that donated or opened their doors to us, to the amazing volunteers that showed up each day, to the dozens of desserts that came flooding in after we expressed the need, and the individuals and families that came for the dinner to let us serve them, thank you for making this dinner a success."
The Banderas have said they plan to continue the free Christmas Dinner in Norwich for years to come.
Pictured: Over 100 volunteers signed up to help out at the Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner in Norwich and several others also showed up to lend a hand, preparing 1,000 meals to be served for free at the Norwich American Legion Post 189 and delivered to people's homes on Christmas Day. (Submitted photo)
Volunteers at the first Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner in Norwich prepared 1,000 meals for Christmas Day, 730 of which were served via delivery or at the Norwich American Legion Post 189. The remaining 270 meals were donated to nursing homes in the area.
"The people attending the dinner were so grateful, I think especially the people who we delivered to who would have been unable to, not only have a warm holiday meal, but also unable to get to the legion for the free one we were serving," said Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner Norwich Volunteer Coordinator Brianna Curley. "I heard several times that they wouldn't have known what to do if we didn't have this dinner and how thankful they were, so we'll definitely keep it going."
As for the number of volunteers who helped make it possible, Curley said she wouldn't know where to begin guessing; over 100 people signed up to volunteer and several others showed up over the weekend before Christmas to do whatever they could to help.
"It was just amazing everyone did whatever they could to help," said Curley. "Some people that planned on attending the dinner to eat even brought a box or two of cookies when they heard we needed them. It was touching to see a whole community come together and love each other as family."
The Banderas extended their heartfelt thanks to the Norwich community in a Facebook post, saying, "Words cannot describe the copious amount of love and compassion that have come from this community in the days leading up to and at the Christmas Dinner ... From the organizations that donated or opened their doors to us, to the amazing volunteers that showed up each day, to the dozens of desserts that came flooding in after we expressed the need, and the individuals and families that came for the dinner to let us serve them, thank you for making this dinner a success."
The Banderas have said they plan to continue the free Christmas Dinner in Norwich for years to come.
Pictured: Over 100 volunteers signed up to help out at the Bandera Family Free Christmas Dinner in Norwich and several others also showed up to lend a hand, preparing 1,000 meals to be served for free at the Norwich American Legion Post 189 and delivered to people's homes on Christmas Day. (Submitted photo)
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