Bandera Family Dinner feeds more than 600 people
(Submitted Photo)
NORWICH – The second annual Bandera Family Christmas Dinner was held last week with more than 600 meals being provided for free to Chenango County families.
According to Bandera Family Christmas Dinner Volunteer Coordinator Brianna Curley, this year's dinner was another success, and next year event organizers hope to feed even more around the holiday season.
“I think last year there were about 700 participants, so while there were fewer this year our plan for next year is to reach out to local agencies and focus on getting the word out even more,” said Curley. “That being said the support we got from the community was absolutely amazing, and we had approximately 150 volunteers help out with the event.”
“I cant thank the volunteers enough; I feel so fortunate to be part of a community that cares about the people they live with, and I can’t think the volunteers enough for showing up and supporting this event.”
Curley said it’s important that families and individuals don’t spend Christmas alone, and that the dinner is a way for people to come together and spend the holiday in a safe, warm environment.
“I think its important, especially on holidays like this, for no one to be alone,” she said. “It breaks my heart to think of people who don’t have anyone to spend the holiday with, or food to eat, and this event helps with that.”
She said this year’s dinner managed volunteers more effectively, with specific tasks for individuals to sign up for. She added that the event still relies on resources from Binghamton, and for future years she would like to see Norwich standing on its own.
“I would love it for Norwich to have their own standalone dinner,” said Curley. “It would be great if we could get it to where we can sustain the dinner here locally, and not have to go to Binghamton for additional support.”
Curley added that in the meantime nothing goes to waste, and any leftover food from the dinner has been donated to local nursing homes.
“The nursing homes were able to put on a christmas dinner for their residents,” she said. “Nothing goes to waste, we use anything we can for the dinner and we pay the rest forward.”
She added that the continued support of the community has made this event possible, and that she hopes to help make next year’s event even better.
According to Bandera Family Christmas Dinner Volunteer Coordinator Brianna Curley, this year's dinner was another success, and next year event organizers hope to feed even more around the holiday season.
“I think last year there were about 700 participants, so while there were fewer this year our plan for next year is to reach out to local agencies and focus on getting the word out even more,” said Curley. “That being said the support we got from the community was absolutely amazing, and we had approximately 150 volunteers help out with the event.”
“I cant thank the volunteers enough; I feel so fortunate to be part of a community that cares about the people they live with, and I can’t think the volunteers enough for showing up and supporting this event.”
Curley said it’s important that families and individuals don’t spend Christmas alone, and that the dinner is a way for people to come together and spend the holiday in a safe, warm environment.
“I think its important, especially on holidays like this, for no one to be alone,” she said. “It breaks my heart to think of people who don’t have anyone to spend the holiday with, or food to eat, and this event helps with that.”
She said this year’s dinner managed volunteers more effectively, with specific tasks for individuals to sign up for. She added that the event still relies on resources from Binghamton, and for future years she would like to see Norwich standing on its own.
“I would love it for Norwich to have their own standalone dinner,” said Curley. “It would be great if we could get it to where we can sustain the dinner here locally, and not have to go to Binghamton for additional support.”
Curley added that in the meantime nothing goes to waste, and any leftover food from the dinner has been donated to local nursing homes.
“The nursing homes were able to put on a christmas dinner for their residents,” she said. “Nothing goes to waste, we use anything we can for the dinner and we pay the rest forward.”
She added that the continued support of the community has made this event possible, and that she hopes to help make next year’s event even better.
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