Volunteers serve up, deliver Christmas meals in Marietta, Parkersburg
Earl Hulce, right, hands off a plate at the annual Christmas dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. Other servers were, from left, Marie Stanley, Anne Baker and Jane Hulce. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
From left, volunteers Traci Morris, Kathy Finley-Boggs, Kaelin Morris and Eric Mallett pack meals for delivery Monday morning at the Christmas Day Feast at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre resident Mark Greathouse loads meals into a delivery team’s vehicle Monday morning during the Christmas Day Feast at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Volunteer Gretchen Lankford, right, carries meals out to a delivery team as volunteer Destanie Greathouse sorts toys during the Christmas Day Feast Monday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Curt Nichols, left, of Parkersburg, is served by Rita Fish during the annual Christmas dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. Also serving were Bob Fish and Deborah Martin. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
Sorting the clothes to give away were Sharon Flanagan, left, and Kathy Flanagan, right, both of Parkersburg. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
Earl Hulce, right, hands off a plate at the annual Christmas dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. Other servers were, from left, Marie Stanley, Anne Baker and Jane Hulce. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
From left, volunteers Traci Morris, Kathy Finley-Boggs, Kaelin Morris and Eric Mallett pack meals for delivery Monday morning at the Christmas Day Feast at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Belpre resident Mark Greathouse loads meals into a delivery team’s vehicle Monday morning during the Christmas Day Feast at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Volunteer Gretchen Lankford, right, carries meals out to a delivery team as volunteer Destanie Greathouse sorts toys during the Christmas Day Feast Monday at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Curt Nichols, left, of Parkersburg, is served by Rita Fish during the annual Christmas dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. Also serving were Bob Fish and Deborah Martin. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
Sorting the clothes to give away were Sharon Flanagan, left, and Kathy Flanagan, right, both of Parkersburg. (Photo by Jeffrey Saulton)
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MARIETTA -- Although Bruce Haas is pleased with the growth of the Christmas Day Feast he and three friends founded a decade ago, he wouldn't mind if it one day went away.
"It would be a wonderful thing if we didn't do this, if every person in our area of influence here was able to have a nice, family-oriented Christmas celebration in their home," he said Monday morning as he watched dozens of volunteers load free meals for delivery around the area. "Until that time, we will continue to do this."
At the first Christmas Day Feast in Marietta, about 20 people volunteered and served "barely 150" meals, Haas recalled.
This year, well over 100 volunteers over the course of several days prepared, served and delivered an estimated 850 meals to people who came to the event at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Harmar Village, picked up meals they'd reserved or had them delivered by 20 teams of at least two people.
"Everything is growing," Haas said.
In Parkersburg, the annual Christmas meal at First Presbyterian Church delivered meals and also served those who came to the church fellowship hall. In addition to the food, they were also giving out socks, hats, gloves, scarves and other items.
For the second year in a row, the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5108 offered its van to bring people to the Marietta event, a service of which seven folks took advantage. Members also helped direct traffic as delivery teams picked up meals, and in some cases toys, Monday morning.
"Helping people. It's what it's all about," said Gene Venham, the post's commander. "Instead of sitting around the house, we come out here and serve the community."
They were joined by members of AMVETS Post 1788 and American Legion Post 64.
Other volunteers weren't part of any group other than family.
Gretchen Lankford was invited to help out in 2022 by her uncle and enjoyed the experience so much she came back this year.
"It was really fun to get to hand the food to people and see all the joy and thanks they had," she said.
It's become an annual tradition for the Greathouse family of Belpre as well. They prepare spreadsheets to organize the deliveries and help get the meals to the drivers outside the hall.
"You know it's going to get done and done right," said Bill Haas, a friend of but no relation to Bruce.
Marietta resident Charlotte Huffman and her son, John Hagar, were among the people who came to eat at the hall.
"We just got hungry," Huffman said with a laugh.
"I think it's kind of nice what they do for Christmas, because a lot of people need it," Hagar said.
Businesses made donations of food, toys, equipment and services as well, Bruce Haas noted. The Puls Family Trio provided musical entertainment.
"They have blessed us with free music every year. It's amazing," Haas said.
The Rev. Annie McMillian, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, said they delivered 260 meals and served many more at the Parkersburg church.
McMillian, who is in her third year as First Presbyterian's pastor, said she did not know about the program when she started.
"This is a great program at the church," she said. "It's a great ministry for the community."
Sharon Flanagan, a volunteer at the meal said they gave out more than 200 pairs of men's socks.
"We are completely out," she said. "We are out of men's gloves as well."
Flanagan said in addition to the hats, scarves and gloves they also had coats and blankets.
Kathy Flanagan added they also had a number of personal hygiene products.
"We had soap and shampoo," she said. "But they are gone. There was also a big demand for nail clippers."
Susan Buchanan, of Parkersburg, said she has been to almost every dinner the church has served over the years.
"I wasn't here last year," she said. "It was too cold."
Buchanan said in addition to the meal she liked the company.
"The food is good and I enjoy being around the people," she said.
Mike Kapp, of Parkersburg, has been to the meal at the church in the past.
"The food is good and the people who served the food are really nice," he said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.
Jeffrey Saulton can be reached at jsaulton@newsandsentinel.com.