More than 600 meals were prepared and served during the Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. This year marked the dinner’s 30th anniversary. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

PARKERSBURG — Local churches continued Wednesday a tradition of serving meals for the community on Christmas Day.

Breakfasts and dinners were held in Parkersburg and Marietta where hundreds of residents participated in the annual meals either as volunteers, guests or both.

The First Presbyterian Church on Juliana Street in Parkersburg celebrated the 30th anniversary of its annual Christmas Day dinner.

“This is my first time here,” said John Hanley, who was unaware of the community-wide Christmas dinner until he saw it in the news.

“I’m going to come back next year,” he said.

Jerry Smith cooks sausage patties Christmas morning for the annual pancakes and sausage breakfast at the Gihon Tabernacle Evangelical Methodist Church on Gihon Road in south Parkersburg. The church has held the breakfast for the past six years. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Mari Furby came with three generations of her family, including granddaughter Aleasha Bradshaw, who also volunteered, granddaughter Sarah Clonts, 4 months, daughter-in-law Rebecca Lee and her husband, Kevin Clonts.

“We look forward to this,” said Furby with granddaughter Sarah on her lap.

“The food is always good,” she said.

“Awesome, just awesome,” David Swierzynski, who was a Salvation Army bell ringer, said.

Among the dinner volunteers was Yvonne White. More than 600 meals are prepared and served, either at the church or for take out.

From left, Sarah Clonts, 4 months, Mari Furby, Aleasha Bradshaw and Rebecca Lee pose during the annual community Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

“It’s a pretty big undertaking,” she said.

White and her late husband, John, started volunteering more than 25 years ago. This year she was working in the pie room and plans to volunteer again next year.

“As long as I can,” she said,

Deanie Kendall has volunteered about 15 years at the dinner. She also helps at the Salvation Army.

“It makes you feel so good,” she said.

From left, Deanie Kendall and Yvonne White work the pie room on Christmas Day during the 30th annual Christmas Day Dinner at First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. More than 600 meals are prepared. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

With all those meals, comes all the dirty dishes. Al Hupp and his daughter Anisa Hupp washed dishes on Wednesday.

Hupp, who is affiliated with Boy Scout Troop 4, has volunteered for about four years. It keeps to the idea of service to the community, according to Hupp.

At the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta, volunteers served, delivered and prepared more than 500 meals on Christmas Day.

“There’s plenty of food,” organizer Bruce Haas told the crowd as he organized the processional to the buffet. “We’re not going to run out.”

This is the sixth year for the dinner organized as a community service by his men’s bible study class. Volunteers for the dinner come from a variety of denominations, Haas said, as the Puls Family String Trio performed in the background.

From left, Al Hupp and his daughter Anisa Hupp wash dishes on Wednesday at the 30th annual Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. Hupp is with Boy Scout Troop 4 in Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

More than 500 meals were served, volunteer Angela Greathouse said.

Dinners were delivered to various places from the church, including to Beverly, Williamstown, Belpre and Vienna, Haas said. Several volunteers returned and their experience was beneficial to the organization of the dinner, Haas said.

“That’s really helped,” Haas said.

Among the helpers were Steve and Maggie Meyer of Marietta. They also ate their Christmas meal at the church.

“We thought it would for the spirit of Christmas to help someone else,” Maggie said.

John Hanley eats dinner Wednesday at the annual Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Parkersburg. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Roger Patterson, of Marietta, was with his grandsons, Jadin and Adrian Buckman. It’s a good feeling to help others, Patterson said.

“It sure does,” he said.

Duane Murray has attended the dinner three times.

“I enjoy the people and stuff,” he said.

The Gihon Tabernacle Evangelical Methodist Church, 1906 Gihon Road, Parkersburg, for the sixth year held its Christmas Day pancakes and sausage breakfast on Christmas morning.

The breakfast, also part of the church’s outreach ministry for people without families, is a respite in a busy day and schedules, according to Pastor Jeff Williamson.

“This is a place where they can break up the day,” he said.

It’s also a large enough place where families that have grown over the years have enough space to celebrate together, Williamson said.

“We’ve watched them grow,” he said.

The breakfast generally serves from 45 to 60 people, Williamson said.

“The weather has a lot to do with it,” he said.

Two of the volunteers were Jerry Smith and Steve Vicars, both veterans of the Vietnam War and members of the church.

“It’s a good time of fellowship,” said Smith, who also volunteers for Housecalls Hospice for veterans in hospice. He has volunteered for the breakfast for six years.

“It’s the Christian thing to do,” Vicars said.

Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com.

From left are Maggie and Steve Meyer of Marietta, who helped at the Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Roger Patterson, center, is flanked by grandsons Adrian and Jadin Buckman on Wednesday at the Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

The Puls Family String Trio, from left, David, Rachel and Cynthia, performed during the annual Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Angela Greathouse counts the number of meals served Wednesday at the Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. More than 500 meals were prepared. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

Bruce Haas, background far right, organizes the tables as they proceed to the buffet during the annual Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. (Photo by Jess Mancini)

More than 500 meals were prepared for the Christmas Day Dinner at the First Presbyterian Church in Marietta. Volunteers from numerous denominations helped at the sixth annual dinner. (Photo by Jess Mancini)