Free Christmas meals for those in need
Dec. 21—Local food pantries, volunteer groups and other generous folks will once again be dishing up dinner for anyone in need of a Christmas meal this week.
The Capt. Lester S. Wass American Legion Post No. 3 members and a "legion" of volunteers, including Sea Cadets from the Gloucester-based David G. Ouellet Division will once again cook, feed, and deliver more than 600 Christmas holiday ham dinners to the elderly, shut-in, veterans and needy in Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Essex, Ipswich and Hamilton.
Those who wish to have a meal delivered or volunteer may sign up by calling 978-283-7117 (anytime and leave a message), or emailing nestorlaw@aol.com, by Wednesday, Dec. 22, at noon. Leave your name, address, phone number, and number of meals. Volunteer drivers are welcome , as well as monetary donations.
"We want to give them a sense of community to help various veteran organizations and we are fortunate to utilize The Open Door pantry which is affiliated out of the American Legion," said David G. Ouellet Division's Commanding Officer Lt. Cmdr. Bob Pallazolla of the cadets who are volunteering.
Legion Post Commander Mark L. Nestor said he appreciates the volunteer spirit by all those who help out, especially on Christmas Day.
"It is especially gratifying to see the spirit and 'can do' attitude of the Sea Cadets that they bring to this mission," said Nestor in a prepared statement. "Not only does having the Sea Cadets as volunteers on Christmas Day lessen the challenge of having enough volunteers to serve and deliver so many meals, but they serve as a shining example of the youth of this great city in how they reach out to help those less fortunate in these extremely trying and frightening times. They are our next generation and they are ready."
North Shore Community Action Partners, based in Peabody, has compiled a list of other places where free meals will be available Saturday, Christmas Day, on Cape Ann and the North Shore. It also notes that, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, many places that would traditionally offer sit-down meals are doing take-out instead.
* Citizens Inn Haven from Hunger, at 71 Wallis St., Peabody, will be providing Christmas meals to-go from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Christmas Day. Home deliveries may be arranged for people unable to come to Haven to pick up a meal. Call 978-531-1530 or email info@citizensinn.org.
* My Brother's Table, at 98 Willow St., Lynn, is providing to-go Christmas meals to individuals and families from noon to 4:30 p.m. Extra meals are available for people to take to neighbors, friends, etc., who are unable to pick up a Christmas meal to-go for themselves. Call 781-595-3224.
* First Baptist Church, at 221 Cabot St., Beverly, will be serving a lunch meal at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Meals will be offered as take-out or eat-in. Call 978-922-3295.
* Lifebridge in Salem will not be providing Christmas meals for the general public this year, but will serve its current residents and day guests who have signed up only.
* Northshore Unitarian Universalist Church in Danvers will not be serving Christmas Day Dinner with Friends for the second time in more than 35 years. It hope to resume this tradition next year.
