VFW to Host Annual Christmas Dinner
By Terry Bailey
The Beloit VFW Post will host their Annual Free Christmas Dinner once again this year continuing a tradition that began as far back as the 1950s. According to Post Commander Charlie Wright somewhere between 20 to 25 volunteers will begin work preparing the dinner Thursday morning and stay busy full time until the cleanup is completed late Friday afternoon.
Wright emphasized that being a veteran is not required nor is being a relative of a veteran a requirement to attend the dinner. There is no sign up or pre-registration necessary. He said with conviction, “The only requirement for people to attend is that they be hungry and looking forward to a good meal.” There is no cost for the meal although free will donations would be accepted.
According to Wright a group of volunteers gather on Thursday morning to begin baking the turkeys and hams. Gene Pestinger and his group of local coffee drinkers report for potato-peeling duty. Usually volunteers from Glasco attend and perform several necessary duties.
While many people have worked very hard over the years to make this a very successful community activity, Wright said that George Colby and Bill Severance were extremely dedicated to this event year after year after year. He added,”The VFW members and their wives and the VFW Auxillary shoulder the burden of the work but it is truly a total community effort. People are very generous with donations of turkeys, hams, potatoes and about everything needed to make a traditional Christmas meal. Beloit is well known in North Central Kansas for being very veteran friendly.”
This free meal will be served from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. on Christmas day at the VFW Post Home located at 102 East South Street in Beloit. The VFW takes great pride in being able to make this activity available to anyone who wishes to attend. To repeat the words of Charlie Wright, the only requirement to attend is that you be hungry and ready to eat a good meal.