[New] Christmas Dinners Are On The Menu

Two local communities will be back, almost, to holding a 2019 (pre-pandemic) style Christmas Day dinner this Sunday.

At the Lion’s Hall in Verona, as well as the Lion’s Hall in Northbrook, Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, vegetables and pies will be on the menu for anyone or any group of people who would like to share a community meal.

Joyce Casement has been a lead organiser of the Verona Dinner for many years, and for Marylin Bolender, it has been 13 years since she started cooking up multiple Christmas Day turkeys in Northbrook.

“The dinners are a labour of love,” said Casement of her motivation to work on the event each year, “The take-out dinners that we did over COVID were ok because that was the best we could do, but this year we are really looking forward to being together.”

But walk-ins are more than welcome as well.

“We will be serving everyone who shows up at the hall on Christmas Day,” said Casement.

The Verona Lion’s Hall will open at 10:30 am for a social time before dinner is served as about noon.

In Northbrook, dinner will be served at about 12:30 and food will be available until people stop coming or the food runs out.

“We did about half and half eat-in and takeout last year,” said Marylin Bolender, “and we expect it will be more like before the pandemic this year, with more eat-in than takeout, but we will be ready for whatever happens,” she said.

Bolender said that donations in advance and on the day are the best way for people to help cover the food cost of the dinners, and volunteers are always welcome. She can be contacted at 613-336-1573.

“People are already letting me know they are coming,” she said, “even though I was late letting people know about the dinner this year. Maybe they were waiting. After two years of COVID, I think people are happy to be sharing a meal together again.”

“We are looking forward to greeting people this year,” she said.