PORT TOWNSEND — Plans for a community Christmas dinner at the Port Townsend Community Center have been solidified, although the financing still needs to be worked out.
Plans for the dinner began after Olympic Community Action Programs, or OlyCAP, announced the cancellation of its Tri-Area Community Center Christmas meal in Chimacum, which was then revived by members of the East Jefferson Rotary Club.
This interest prompted OlyCAP’s re-involvement, and it is now co-sponsoring the dinner.
Those organizing the Port Townsend dinner, many of them volunteers who have worked at the Tri-Area in the past, decided to proceed with their event since they had already recruited a chef, procured food and secured a promise for free use of the center at 620 Tyler St.
“A lot of people stepped up to make this happen,” said Hadlock Building Supply owner Bill Kraut, who is helping to organize the Port Townsend event.
“We wouldn’t be able to do this without Hugh Murphy, Del Noack and Bob Goldberg.”
Goldberg, who served as chef for several years at the Tri-Area center, will do the cooking along with Jefferson Healthcare chef Arran Stark.
The hospital is also supplying the food, Kraut said.
Both meals will take place from noon to 3 p.m. Christmas Day.
The Tri-Area center is located at 10 West Valley Road in Chimacum.
The Boiler Room, 711 Water St. in Port Townsend, also will offer a free dinner beginning at 3 p.m. and continuing as long as supplies last.
Above the cost of the food and the location, about $1,000 could be needed for the event, much of it already raised through donations, Kraut said.
OlyCAP has received around $3,500 in donations, of which up to $2,500 will be needed to support the event, according to the agency’s executive director, Dale Wilson.
On Tuesday, Wilson said he intended to speak to Kraut about how OlyCAP could contribute.
Those who wish to contribute to the Port Townsend dinner can send checks to St. Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church, 1335 Blaine St., Port Townsend, WA 98368.
Contributors should indicate the funds are intended to support the dinner, a church representative said.
Volunteers don’t appear to be an issue for either event, as more than enough have already been recruited.
Nevertheless, those who want to do so can contact Rainey Blankenship at 360-732-4822 for the Tri-Area dinner or Karen Kastel, 360-367-1655, in Port Townsend.
“We don’t know if they’ll be needed, but we are planning for next year,” Kraut said.
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Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
