Volunteers scoop fresh, hot food onto plates for attendees at the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — There were over 300 residents who received a hot meal, clothing, and toiletries at the First Presbyterian Church’s Community Christmas Dinner on Thursday.

The Rev. Annie McMillan has been part of the event for about five years and said the goal is to help anyone in need.

There were over 200 orders for meals to be delivered as well as about 40 meals ordered for pick-up.

“We do deliveries for those who are homebound and unable to get out, and then we also offer carry out and serve everyone who comes in,” she said.

McMillan said the meal includes turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and green beans. Guests also can pick from a selection of pies like apple, pumpkin, and cherry flavors. She said the pies are more difficult to deliver so they offer cookies as well.

Hand-made hats made by members of the K.O.M. Rivers Fiber Guild available for free to anyone in need at the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

There’s also fruit options like apples, oranges, and bananas.

“They have to let us know about 10 days before, so usually around Dec. 15 they need to let us know if they’re doing delivery,” she said. “Otherwise it’s just come in and we make sure we have plenty of food for everyone.”

There are about 20 volunteers who arrive at the Stevenson Fellowship Hall at the church early in the morning to start preparing the meals for dine-in, carry-out, and delivery.

Guests who dine-in have the option to browse through the array of hand-knitted hats as well as coats, ponchos, gloves, hygiene products, dog food, clothes, and more.

Volunteers Kathy and Sharon Flanagan said the ponchos were a really big hit this year.

Hygiene products like deodorant, mouthwash, toothpaste and handwipes were available for attendees at the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

“The church donates money and someone shops for these items,” said Kathy. “People are very happy to pick up these things.”

Kathy said they’ve offered things like tents, sleeping bags and anything that would help keep someone dry. They also receive a lot of monetary donations from the community as well as donated items from businesses in the area.

“The knitting group started knitting scarves and hats, that’s what this originally was – just hats and scarves,” said Kathy.

The K.O.M. Rivers Fiber Guild meets every first Monday of each month at the Presbyterian Church and would donate the items they made to the church.

“It’s amazing work,” said McMillan. “Most of these hats are handmade by them.”

Attendees at the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner chose from portions of fresh mashed potatoes, green beans, turkey and desserts at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Food and items were free for all residents in the area. McMillan said it’s great seeing everyone enjoying a meal.

“We love that we’re able to do this for the community,” said McMillan.

There were a handful of guests enjoying a warm meal at the First Presbyterian Church of the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Guests at the Community Christmas Dinner chose from apple, cherry, and pumpkin pie for their dessert at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Fresh fruit available for guests at the 36th annual Community Christmas Dinner held at the First Presbyterian Church on Thursday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)