Christmas Dinner
Thousands fed a Christmas feast in Myrtle
Beach area
Posted on Sat, Dec. 26, 2009
By Claudia Lauer
clauer@thesunnews.com
The Coastal South Carolina Chapter of the American Red Cross celebrated its 21st
year of serving Christmas dinner to thousands of Myrtle Beach area residents and
visitors with a new location at the St. John's Greek Orthodox Church.
The Red Cross held four dinners at locations throughout the Grand Strand and
delivered more than a thousand meals to elderly or homebound residents. The
organization moved its Myrtle Beach dinner to St. John's because it offered a
larger serving and preparation area. Angela Nichols, chief executive officer of
the coastal S.C. chapter, said the organization has seen an increased need in
the past two years - upping its serving totals from about 4,000 to 4,500
dinners.
"There's a lot more space, so we expect to feed a lot more people. The church is
just beautiful. Thankfully Coast RTA is picking some folks up downtown who would
not otherwise have a ride here, so everything is just running great. Everybody
is coming in just very happy today," Nichols said. "With the economy the way
that it is, a lot of people are out of work. We're seeing a lot of different
people come in for the servings. They may be people who would have volunteered
previous years, but this year they need our help. We hope to be here for
everyone who needs us over the holidays."
There were some worries that homeless residents or those without transportation
would have a hard time getting to the new location across U.S. 17 Bypass, but
The Coast Regional Transportation Authority donated a small bus that made four
trips to the Street Reach homeless shelter and to the dinner's old location at
the Presbyterian church on U.S. 17 Business to make sure everyone who needed a
meal had a way to get to the church. More than 60 people took the bus to the
dinner service.
For some residents, the meal was a much needed gift for the holidays because of
tough financial times. For others, the meal was a chance to celebrate the
holidays with others who may not have family in the area.
Donna Guerin has attended the Red Cross' Christmas dinner every year for more
than a decade. This year, she brought her sister and a friend, who were
attending the dinner for the first time.
"I was on the street for 17 years of my life, and I know what it can mean to
have people to spend Christmas with. It's just ... joyous to be here," she said.
"It's so great to see the children and the folks who are as old as 102 just
sitting together and celebrating Christmas. It's always meant a lot to me."
For Elinore Atkins and her grandson Tyler, who were on vacation in Myrtle Beach
from Pennsylvania, the Red Cross dinner was an easier way to celebrate the
holidays.
"I think this dinner is really nice. We saw it advertised on TV and decided it
was easier than trying to cook a holiday dinner for the three of us," Elinore
Atkins said. "We're staying in the condo until Sunday, so this just makes a lot
more sense."
For the dozens of volunteers at the event, the chance to make a difference in
the life of someone who needs a kind word or a hot meal is enough to bring them
back year after year for the dinner billed as one of the largest serving events
for the Red Cross in the state. Bi-Lo supermarkets donated a $5,000 grant that
bought more than 200 turkeys, 1,300 pounds of potatoes and yams, gallons of
coleslaw, green beans, cranberries and dressing that took four 12- to 16-hour
days to prepare.
Kathy Markus and her husband, Scott, have volunteered prepping the meal and
serving for the last three years.
"My husband loves to cook, and I went to culinary school right out of high
school. I still love being in the kitchen and the whole kitchen atmosphere. This
is our third year ... and it's just awesome," Marcus said. "It's kind of like a
big family here. You walk in and everyone is like, 'Hey! How are you?' and gives
you a hug. It's all for such a good cause. Anybody can come, a half an hour, an
hour of volunteering - it doesn't really matter. There's always something to do.
It's good for the heart, good for the soul and good for the community."
Marcus said her favorite part of the event is split between the camaraderie of
being in the kitchen and serving and meeting residents who come to the event.
For some of the event's younger volunteers, the feeling of giving back was
enough to keep them coming back as well.
"I know this sounds corny, but I get this warm fuzzy feeling in my stomach every
time I help someone. It just feels good to be able to do that," said Alex
Savage-Davis, 17. "Even when I'm lugging coats for the clothing drive out of the
car at ridiculously late hours, and I drop some, I still get that feeling."
Gracyn Truett, 11, had some of the same feelings about volunteering.
"It feels good to help. The rest of my family came for the first time this year;
my mom and my brother. He's mostly been walking around sort of watching what
everyone else is doing and trying to figure out what to do, but he's 6," Truett
said. "Last year my dad came and helped me with the coats drive, but this year
I'm helping serve the food."
By the end of service Friday, the Red Cross chapter planned to serve 4,500
dinners, including more than 1,000 delivered to people who are sick, elderly or
homebound for the holidays.
"I wouldn't spend my Christmas any other way," Guerin said. "This dinner has
become more than tradition for me. It is Christmas."
Contact CLAUDIA LAUER at 626-0301.
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