OROVILLE — Broad smiles, good feelings and full bellies made up the checklist for organizers of Saturday’s Oroville Rescue Mission Christmas dinner at the Oroville Convention Center.
Judging by the number of attendees and the reactions those folks had, Rescue Mission officials were able to check all three boxes.
According to Pastor Allen Dikes, director of the Rescue Mission, approximately 400 people loaded their plates with food — at no charge — during the event’s first 90 minutes. Another hundred or so had arrived in the following half-hour; Dikes said he expected a total of 800 to enjoy plates of ham, green beans, potatoes and dessert.
“Our goal is to feed the community, and to distribute gifts to the kids,” he said. Those gifts — all donated — included new jackets for youths, courtesy of Oroville-based RCBS, the Oroville Rotary and the South Feather Power and Water District.
Toys came by way of donations from the Oroville Police Department, Oroville Fire Department and the Oroville Community Development Coalition. Each adult received a “hug-a-mug” coffee cup with small gift items inside.
The Oroville YMCA contributed to the dinner portion of the event. Attendees sat at long tables on the Convention Center floor, partaking in good conversation and clearly enjoying the vittles.
Dikes looked out at the attendees and nodded. “I came here (to the mission) in 2004 and it was already going then,” he said, estimating that the event has been taking place for at least 25 years.
Kurtis Braithwaite said he’s fairly new to the scene, volunteering as a cook at the mission for 2½ years. He was the lead cook for Saturday’s meal and said he thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
“I’m very blessed,” Braithwaite said. “I’m excited about it because I look forward to Christmas and Thanksgiving. We’ve received a lot of compliments about the food, but I do this out of love in my heart.”
From Braithwaite’s kitchen, the food went to the serving area, where members of the Las Plumas High School varsity football team served it. They looked resplendent in their red uniform tops.
Tim Harles, the team’s head coach, said this is the second year his players have served the meal.
“We’re always looking for various things throughout the year” as opportunities to serve, he said. “This one’s a sure thing.”
Sharing ‘happiness’
No holiday meal would be complete without dessert, and the event certainly had that to offer. Kathi Ferrill-Start hosted the dessert table, which offered a wide variety of pies for attendees to select.
“I like the idea of helping people, especially with food and gifts,” said Ferrill-Start, an Oroville resident since 1975 and volunteering at her 12th Oroville Rescue Mission Christmas dinner. “I just love seeing the happiness people have.”
She had just handed off a slice of pie to Rosemary Fielder, a resident of Oroville since 1956. Fielder was celebrating her 76th birthday Saturday and her eighth year attending the dinner.
What did she like best about the event? Plenty of things, Fielder said.
“I really enjoy the camaraderie and the community. It’s exciting to see the children with Santa,” she explained. “I also love that we’re feeding the homeless and families.”
Santa Claus sat in a large chair on the auditorium’s stage, beckoning children with frequent “ho-ho-ho” exclamations. The children were not disappointed as each received a gift of some sort. Diana Camacho, a third-grader at Helen Wilcox Elementary School, smiled as she got a large, wrapped box with a bow on top.
What could be inside?
“It’s a jacket, I’m pretty sure,” Diana said. She was correct; she needed a jacket but there weren’t any more in her size, so volunteer Misty Mata got one for Diana that was a size too big — so it will likely fit next year as well.
That was fantastic, said Diana’s father, Jesus Camacho.
“This is a good Christmas event — with the people, Santa Claus and the present,” he said. “Both my son and daughter have gotten gifts here.”
Mata was busy on the stage sorting gifts into age-appropriate stacks, with help from Kira McBride, a Palermo Middle School seventh-grader.
“I’m organizing gifts such as coats and sweaters, and making sure the kids have what they need,” Mata said. “I love to see everyone smile — it makes my heart melt.”
