It Just Warms the Heart

Bend law firm Karnopp Petersen sponsored the "Feed the Hungry" Christmas dinner at Bend's Community Center for the second consecutive year.

'It just warms the heart'

Bend's Community Center dishes up holiday cheer with annual meal

By Yoko Minoura / The Bulletin
Published: December 26. 2007 4:00AM PST

Cradling a cup of coffee, 41-year-old Anonia Piper said the annual Christmas Day meal at Bend’s Community Center is like a big family celebration.

“It just warms the heart,” she said.

An estimated 300 people ate at the center Tuesday, which served a free Christmas meal from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A steady stream of individuals loaded their plates with turkey, ham, mashed potatoes and gravy, and green bean casserole laid out on a buffet table.

“We get a lot of people on fixed incomes, a lot of elderly, a lot of young families as well as (the) homeless,” said Taffy Gleason, executive director of Bend’s Community Center. “A lot of people don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Gleason said the annual meal took a small army of volunteers one week to prepare, using 44 turkeys, 26 hams and more than 200 pounds of potatoes, among other ingredients.

Bend law firm Karnopp Petersen paid for all the food and provided many volunteers for the second year in a row, she said.

During the afternoon meal, Santa distributed presents to children, and volunteers held a free drawing for adults, passing out sleeping bags, winter clothing and other items.

Bend resident Charlie Hardin, 56, said the free Christmas meal couldn’t have come at a better time.

“I got laid off about two weeks ago, now,” he said. “And it’s been a real kick in the rear, this time of year.”

Hardin said he thinks Bend needs more programs and services like those offered by the community center, which serves one hot meal each week throughout the year and provides toiletries, clothing and other items to people in need.

“I’ve never been in this position until the last year or so,” he said.

In the community center’s kitchen, volunteer Doug Hancock said his entire family turns out to help with the Christmas meal.

His wife, who works at Karnopp Petersen, joined him in preparing the meal Tuesday, while his two daughters volunteered in the thrift store.

“For us, Christmas is a lot about community,” he said.

Hancock added that the satisfaction he gets from volunteering is a great return for giving what seems like a relatively small amount of his time.

“We enjoy it. It’s fun,” he said. “(And) it’s a way to help out people (who) need help.”

Jon Napier, an attorney with Karnopp Petersen who donned an apron and gloves to take his turn at the dishwasher in the kitchen Tuesday afternoon, said volunteering to help on Christmas Day is one small way to give back.

He said in the past two years that Karnopp Petersen has pledged volunteers, employees have seemed eager to help.

Napier said it just seems like a part of an overall community spirit in Bend, where people care for those less fortunate.

“(It’s) just what Christmas is about,” he said. “Everyone enjoys seeing the people out here, that might not have very much, get a chance to sit down and have a hot meal and relax.”

Yoko Minoura can be reached at 383-0387 or yminoura@bendbulletin.com.