PORT ANGELES — One Santa, 12 turkeys, 20 hams, dozens of volunteers and an expected 200 guests will bring the Christmas spirit to the Port Angeles branch of the Salvation Army today.
“We’ll have Santa there and a few small gifts for the kids, as well as crafts and games to entertain them,” said Salvation Army Maj. Darvin Jordan.
After passing out gifts to families all week, the organization invited hundreds of people to join in breaking bread on Christmas day.
“We really have no idea how many will show up,” Jordan said.
On Christmas Eve, the building at 206 S. Peabody St. in Port Angeles was abuzz with preparations for the big day.
First Christmas lunch
Since it was the first time that the organization has hosted a lunch on Christmas Day, Jordan said it was hard to know what to expect.
Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and although the meal is free, those who wish to participate should pick up tickets beforehand.
After Clallam County public health officials nixed the idea of having volunteers cook food at their homes and bring it to the Salvation Army, Peninsula Golf Club members agreed to cook the turkeys in the industrial ovens at the club.
“They have been so wonderful,” Jordan said. “We cannot cook this many turkeys at our kitchen.
“I asked, and just a second later, they had agreed to do it.”
Christmas Eve was the last day of the Kettle Program, in which “bell ringers” stand at local establishments to ask for donations.
It is one of the major fundraisers for the Salvation Army.
The funds had not yet been totaled on Christmas Eve, Jordan said.
With more than double the usual daily attendance for free meals — offered daily from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Salvation Army — Jordan had hoped for more funds than in past years, adding that some past donors were now clients who needed meals.
The organization serves all of Clallam County, Jordan said.
The Christmas programs had distributed food to some 850 to 1,000 families, Jordan said.
About 1,500 children received presents from the organization.
Repairs needed
Jordan said that the organization also must make major repairs to the building.
“Our gutter system is almost nonexistent, and parts of the bottoms of buildings are rotting away,” he said.
“We also are desperately in need of building an addition to house the food pantry, so that we can do some more programming in the gym.
“We have so much more demand, but we have got to raise some funds to meet that.”
Also, more clients mean more people to help them.
“We have such fantastic people who have really stepped up to help, but of course, more volunteers are always needed — just as any organization will tell you,” Jordan said.
For more information, or to donate, phone 360-452-7679.
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Reporter Paige Dickerson can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at paige.dickerson@peninsuladailynews.com.