Pie fills a table as volunteers serve ham, baked potatoes, steamed carrots and other food during the Christmas meal at The Lighthouse at 38 College Ave. in Waterville in December 2022. Rich Abrahamson/Morning Sentinel file
AUGUSTA – Communities in central Maine have planned meals for people who may need assistance at a time when thousands are still without electricity.
South Parish Congregational Church in Augusta has planned a free, curbside meal for anyone who may need it. The church will provide a full turkey dinner meal on Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at 9 Church St. The church has said that for those in the greater Augusta area unable to get to the venue due to lack of transportation, the dinner can be delivered to their homes if requested.
A similar service is planned in Winslow by Norman and Kim Lawrence, longtime Albion residents. The event, called “Central Maine Family Christmas Dinner,” has been held for 15 years, serving a feast at the Elks Lodge in Waterville.
“My husband and I once served as volunteers in Bangor,” said Kim Lawrence. “We wondered why we can’t do something similar in the Waterville area.”
This year, however, the venue has changed to the Winslow Elementary School, she said. The menu offers a classic Christmas dinner, with turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy and pies. Local churches have also contributed by donating options for desserts, she noted. The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Christmas Day.
The meal is planned for around 1,000 people – keeping in mind the storm that hit Maine earlier this week, depriving many parts of the state of electricity.
“The dinner is important this year, especially because many people lost power and had food go bad in the freezer, and many can’t cook,” Kim Lawrence said. “No one should spend Christmas dinner alone, so if you have a neighbor who doesn’t have a car, bring them along.”
Send questions/comments to the editors.
