A place to go on Christmas

ROCKFORD - Over the last decade, Rockford's annual "Together at Christmas" free meal has grown from a way to feed the less-fortunate during the holidays into a full-blown community event.

The meal began in 2005 "with a vision by the Rockford United Methodist Church's administrative board to provide dinner for those who are alone or hungry on Christmas," church officer manager Susan Sheppard said.

Nearly as many volunteers as guests showed up to the village's Community Hall that first year, she said.

"We had 95 volunteers serving that day and about that many showed up to eat," she told the newspaper.

By 2009, the number of guests had grown to 360. That figure nearly doubled in 2014, when the church served plates of turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes with gravy, sweet potato casserole and dinner rolls to its 700 guests.

"Diners are given a menu card and are served by volunteers," the Rev. Thurlow "Chip" Steffy told the newspaper. "No one has to wait in line. We bring the dinner to you."

In addition to these hot dishes, the church also provides a variety of homemade desserts and a gift is given to each child in attendance.

Sheppard attributes the growing number of guests to several factors, including word of mouth, people feeling more comfortable about attending and the growing number of Americans facing poverty.

"It is really such a blessing to be able to do this," Sheppard said. "In 11 years, we've never run out of food or volunteers. We've never had to turn anyone away."

According to Sheppard, the event has recently expanded to include "empty-nesters" and those hosting out-of-town family members during the holiday.

"Some of our diners have no close family in the area," volunteer Norm VanTilburg said. "This gives them the opportunity to enjoy a meal and some close conversation for a few hours."

Church funds and donations pay for the event and volunteers gather to prepare and serve the meals.

"Everything is prepared on-site except for the desserts and the turkey," Steffy said. "We have turkey babysitters. The volunteers cook the turkeys at home and bring them back for the event."

The meal gives volunteers a chance to give back to their community when they otherwise might have simply sat at home, he added.

"It's really changed the way we all celebrate Christmas," he said.

While the event has a somewhat formal setting, Sheppard said guests often compare it to a "big party."
"They wouldn't leave if they didn't have to," she said.
For the church, the feeling is mutual.
"We have such a good time doing this," Sheppard told the newspaper, adding, "If you leave hungry, it's your own fault!"
Steffy's joy rests with knowing he is doing God's work.
"The root of this is turning to the Lord and asking, 'God, what do you want me to do? and serving,' " he told the newspaper. "We're not really volunteers; we're servants. We're serving God and our community. That's what we're trying to do here."

Rockford's "Together at Christmas" free meal will be held from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday.