Over 100 guests ‘unwrap’ shared Christmas dinner at NUC

From left, this year’s 25-member Norwich United Church Christmas Dinner volunteer preparation team included Karen McSpadden, Dan Cohoe, Cheryl Slater, Neil Dolson, Carl Booker, Ross Pollock and Gail Dolson. (Contributed Photo)

Jeff Tribe, Post Correspondent

One-hundred-and-twenty-five people collectively unwrapped the shared community celebration contained within this year’s 17th Annual Norwich United Church (NUC) Christmas Dinner.

Some were church members, some came from the broader community, some from beyond, a truly diverse group says NUC’s Karen McSpadden.

“We get a real cross-section of people - and they all sit down together.”

She, along with husband Dan Cohoe, head up an effort supported by ‘an amazing group of wonderful volunteers’ numbering in the 25-range. Some head off to family Christmas events afterwards, others alternate between NUC and hosting their own meals, and there are also those like the Cohoe-McSpaddens, who have committed to making this an annual family tradition.

The concept was pioneered by Gary and Shirley Debus and Nancy and Larry Anderson.

“I think they were just chatting and thought it would be a cool thing to do,” credited McSpadden, who came onboard shortly after it began. In the earlier years, the event drew between 40 and 60 guests sharing a traditional meal together in the NUC lower hall. COVID necessitated a socially-distanced take-away approach, happily returned to its collective origins post-pandemic.

Last year, a bulk mailing to the Norwich and Burgessville postal areas combining an invitation to the church’s Christmas dinner/Christmas Eve service and seasonal concert resulted in an attendance of 125 on Christmas day. Those record numbers were roughly equalled in 2024 with 120 sit-down diners and 15 deliveries.

“The word is out,” said McSpadden.

There is a sense of chaotic purpose as final preparations come together Christmas morning, an inherent challenge in getting that much food in order in a timely fashion, not to mention what seems to be an annual additional uninvited challenge. It can be inclement weather, there was the time the boiler required to heat the building malfunctioned, or this year’s electrical spark in a warming tray. Fortunately, it turned out to be merely a flash in the pan rather than the portent of more serious issues.

“Every year there always seems to be something,” McSpadden laughed. “But it has never put us down.”

The shifting cast of volunteers included teenagers looking to lock up volunteer hours shovelling snow or helping set up tables, long-time regulars like potato-peeling prep experts Bob and Marie Lester, Ross Pollock, who has literally taken over the heavy lifting of massive cooking pots, or John Palmer on deliveries.

“There is a real sense of camaraderie in the people helping,” said McSpadden.

The menu is consistent, turkey (two of five donated by Corwic Farms), a donated ham, mashed potatoes (100 pounds courtesy of Son-In-Law Produce outside of Otterville), stuffing on the side, gravy, Dan’s special orange, butter and parsley rough-cut carrot recipe, squash, and a selection of sweet treats ranging through pies, tarts, Christmas baking and Deborah Dufton’s trifle.

“There’s always an amazing dessert table,” said McSpadden.

Guests begin arriving at noon and people keep coming in until around 2 p.m., many tarrying for the duration, comfortably sharing Christmas day time and space.

“We try and make it an easy place to sit down for a meal and chat,” said McSpadden. “It’s just a really lovely community spirit.”

There is no charge for the dinner she emphasizes, however some are moved to leave monetary donations beyond the food and volunteer hours already contributed.

“I think people believe we are trying to reach out to our community,” McSpadden theorized.

Admittedly, there is a collective sigh of relief at its conclusion, well-fed guests departing, some carrying leftovers.

“When it’s all over and once again, everything has worked out,” summed up McSpadden of the quiet sense of satisfaction descending on the year that was, the value contained within, which make thoughts of another year both palatable and even manageable.

“We are inspired to keep this Christmas tradition alive at NUC for as long as possible,” McSpadden concluded.