The first Holte Holiday Dinners event under new leadership on Thanksgiving went well, and now organizers are preparing for the Christmas lunch.
A new board of directors this year took over the volunteer-run Holte Holiday Dinners organization that runs the free Thanksgiving and Christmas day lunches at Sacred Heart School’s gymnasium. Close to 300 people generally attend the Thanksgiving meal, while about 500 take part in the Christmas event.
The Christmas event tends to draw more children, said Ruben Lopez, one of the lead organizers and a board member.
As always, the group is looking for donations, preferably money so they can choose the appropriate food offerings. Food donations are appreciated, but can throw off the organizational part of the event, said Lopez, of San Juan Bautista.
“So far, people have been very generous,” he said.
As for preparation, which involves dozens of volunteers helping out, people can assist at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 or else starting around 7 a.m. Christmas morning. Meals are served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Then we really need help cleaning up after,” Lopez said.
Looking ahead beyond this Christmas, the organization is applying to become its own 5013c nonprofit group and plans to include a youth component of some kind, he said.
For more information or to make donations, call Ruben Lopez at (831) 623-4117 or send them to Marley Holte Dinners at P.O. Box 344 in San Juan Bautista, 95045.
