Heart of Christmas Dinner again rescues local residents from a lonely holiday

Phillip Shore

ASHEBORO — Not three ships. Not Mommy kissing Santa Claus. Not a silent, starlit town. Instead, a room filled with visual and corporal motion — the poetry of sound, sight, taste, aroma, and the grandeur of good will. We are attending the annual Heart of Christmas Dinner offered to seniors and those whose circumstances dictated that they spend this day of days alone.

Howard Kilburn loved Christmas. His wife, Peggy, loved Howard. She brings forth his memory in the form of a vision come to life. The Heart of Christmas Dinner is in its 11th year, minus one for a COVID pause. It is an event Howard would like. Each one has been organized by Big Mama Peggy Kilburn utilizing everything and everyone our community has to offer and taking no credit for herself.

’Twas wondrous to be in this swirling room. Some 50 of the 120 volunteers arrived early while drop-off donations of food and prizes were still coming in. The burgeoning number of servers, helpers and entertainers were dressed in their holiday best work clothes. They were not near so glittery in apparel as the 150-plus guests who streamed in when so permitted.

The invitees entered the lobby of the Randolph Senior Adult Center in fits and starts. They were welcomed warmly and registered. They received a name tag and were asked to wait for a few moments in the hallway. The jockeying for position is polite, but the good stuff is in the Main Ball Room and this crowd was hungry for food and companionship … 

Lining both sides of the hallway from the front door to the entrance to the community room, guests settled in to await the nod to enter. Inside the big room, their servers were getting a last bit of advice from Peggy. They assume their positions and Big Mama gives the OK and in the company comes. 

Each guest must pass by the Clauses at the entry to receive a handshake, a slight embrace, a fist bump, or what might pass for a witty welcoming remark.

The outer hallway emptied as the guests chose seats and awaited the next eventuality:  FOOD! 

Did you ever hear of there being TOO much good stuff to eat at a similar event? You have heard it now! Cornucopia turnover! Turkey, ham, dressing, mac and cheese, vegetable casseroles, tea, sweets — SERVED! The volunteer corps trooped around, table to table, pushing carts, and carrying plates. Service performed in such numbers gave the illusion of instant delivery to each and every attendee.

Notable in the kitchen was food from Magnolia 23 with former mayor David Smith looking strong as he wielded a mean serving spoon, plus an all-star crew separate from the floor workers that we barely ever saw, so busy were they.

Sweet potatoes, limas, one doesn’t know what-all! It just kept coming. Anything left was shared with various shelters in town.

Will wonders never cease? Apparently not!  As with any good television ad for cookware: “But Wait! There’s More!”

■ There’s the Belles & Beaus to do line dancing. 

■ Musicians from St. Joseph’s played and led carol singing. 

■ Alisa Smith McNeil operated (six!) BINGO games. 

■ A table full of books donated by The Friends of the Library was available for picking and choosing. 

■ Elvis circulated among the celebrants (Hunka Hunka!). 

■ A couple of prize quilts were drawn for.

■ Busta Brown led a karaoke session.

■ AND each guest received a goody bag of fun doodads and small usables with a fresh copy of Our State.

When the games were over, the clean-up crew took over. The organizers had to leave the room looking like it hadn’t been used by 200 people. There was no delay, no shilly-shally, no complaint by those doing the work. Joy at the opening of the door; joy as the door closed. 

The guests were largely senior citizens, along with empty nesters. The volunteers ranged from teens to mature. Many of the teens were there at the request of Philip Schuyler, a teacher in the Early College Program at RCC. Everyone fulfilled their function. The guests who had presumably been giving service most of their lives received service with a tad of honor.

The Heart of Christmas Dinner had heart, had soul, had Christmas spirit. All who went to eat or work received a simple gift: a warmth that may well last a year. Until the next Heart of Christmas Dinner.