"No one should spend Christmas alone or hungry," is the mantra of Sylvia Antonizzi and her fellow volunteers and organizers of the long-running and well-attended Community Christmas Day Dinner. "Come enjoy your meal with us at the Pro-Cathedral between 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., listen to live Christmas music and leave with a gift bag."
The Community Christmas Day Dinner existed in various forms at other local churches before 2007 but it was that year that the volunteer-driven free holiday meal moved to the Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption, where it will again be held this Dec. 25. Antonizzi says some tables will be set up for families only. The Pro-Cathedral has an accessible entrance on the Algonquin Avenue side. The take-out part of the dinner will run from 1 p.m. until 1:30 p.m.
Antinozzi, who for the past six years has overseen a team of volunteers and contributors for the popular event says, "Our mission is to provide a warm, comfortable atmosphere for those who wish to share a Christmas meal. Most years we are the only food source on Christmas Day."
See the BayToday video above as Antonizzi shares that this year's dinner has the potential to far surpass the 2022 total of 700 meals served.
Antonizzi and her committee also extend their gratitude for the unwavering community support. There are 100 volunteers, including a 12-person executive table. "I have the best team ever," says Antonizzi. "We are so thankful to our benefactors. Asking the public to remember them when it is time to do business, and a big thank you to the whole community for your all-around support."
She says three equally important supporters are vital for the continuity of the project:
- The Davedi Club for the usage of their kitchen and storage space for a whole week. "It is not in every kitchen that you can cook 30-plus turkeys in a couple of days," she says.
- The Rotary Club of North Bay contributes up to $2,500 for groceries.
- Rebuilt Resources has donated $3,000 to help defray costs.
Other contributors the committee is grateful for:
- Tim Hortons is supplying coffee
- Enterprise, a vehicle for transportation of the prepared food from the Davedi to the Pro-Cathedral
- Cobs Bakery offers a 50 per cent deal on fresh delicious bread
- The Legion 599 West Ferris, for space and supplying some desserts
- The Gathering Place, for supporting the meal in many ways
- The Pro-Cathedral, for all-year-round storage and the use of their parish hall
Antonizzi also thanks the many individual donors who contribute with goods and/or money.
If you'd like to volunteer or contribute, please contact [email protected].
