Members of the Bethel Pentecostal Church prepare to serve turkey dinner on Christmas Day. The church has been putting on a free Christmas dinner for five years and expected to welcome more than 200 people this year.
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OAKFIELD, Maine — Sitting in front of a handwritten list of names of shut-ins with cardboard-covered boxes of pumpkin pie at his feet Thursday, Oakfield resident Randy Rockwell remembered a Christmas delivery he made a few years ago.
He had come to the woman’s door bearing a complete meal of turkey and all the fixings, which he carried into her home and to the dining room. The first thing he recalled, he said Thursday, was that she didn’t have a single Christmas decoration anywhere — no Christmas tree, no sparkling lights, no statues of elves or Santa Claus and his reindeer.
What was sadder, however, was what he saw at the kitchen table.
“It was time for Christmas dinner and all that she had on her table was a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich,” he recalled.
Rockwell left the woman not only with a warm traditional dinner but also a smile from ear to ear.
For the past five years, the Bethel Pentecostal Church in Oakfield has held a free sit-down Christmas dinner or delivered the meal to shut-ins. Countless volunteers, under the direction of organizer Lorraine Cullins, spend all day cooking and serving the noon meal.
Delivery drivers take the meals to shut-ins in Oakfield and also to those in such towns as Island Falls, Houlton, Littleton and Amity.
Rockwell said he does it not only for the joy of helping others, but also to “see people smile.”
“I love people, and each time you see that smile of gratitude or pleasure on someone’s face when you help them out, it is all worth it,” he said Thursday afternoon as he coordinated a list of shut-ins for delivery drivers who had come to the church. “I’ve done this every year since it has been in existence and I never tire of it.”
Neither does Cullins, a church member who first had the idea while at choir practice five years ago.
“Five years ago I had a desire in my heart,” she said, tearing up as she recalled the memory. “I mentioned to the choir what I wanted to do and they just jumped on board. That year we served 87 people, and last year we served more than 200 people.”
Inside the church Thursday, tables were adorned with shiny silverware and decorative flowers. Those spaces were reserved for those who could actually make it to the meal site.
A short distance away, volunteers dished heaping spoonfuls of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry, dressing, coleslaw, peas, gravy, squash and a roll into styrofoam containers for delivery.
Cullins said the church cooked 15 turkeys brought in by parishioners and that several Aroostook County businesses and groups donated the remaining food.
Over the years, Cullins said, the church has seen an increased number of people who not only can’t afford Christmas dinner, they can’t afford much food at all.
“People are struggling,” she said.
Once the meal was over and the kitchen clean, many volunteers said they planned to go home and celebrate with their own Christmas dinner.
One exception, however, was Cullins.
“I am always way too tired after this to eat,” she said Thursday.
On 12/28/08 at 6:51 AM,
ncikatz wrote:
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My thanks to you wonderful people who care enough to make sure that folks, who can't make their own special meal or are unable to leave their homes to go to a community or church sponsored special meal, are able to have a Christmas Dinner made by loving hands.
You not only fed their bodies, but you have also fed their hearts and spirits. God Bless every one of you for the happiness that you brought to these folks.
On 12/30/08 at 9:30 PM,
momydearest wrote:
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Being from the Houlton area originally, I think this is a most gracious gifts at Christmas a person could do. If my hub was not ill I d be out doing this same thing.
On 1/1/09 at 11:50 AM,
pammydef wrote:
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I remember Randy Rockwell years ago when I lived in Smyrna Mills, Maine. I read with great interest of his efforts along with the Church regarding preparing and delivering Christmas meals for shut-ins and providing meals for those who could get out to have a Christmas meal. I must say that it warmed my heart to see what a fine young man Randy has grown up to be and how much he cares for those who cannot care for themselves. I moved back to Connecticut in 1981 and do see some of this same generosity during the holidays but for some reason, living in a large city of 65,000 you expect the people to help out as there seems to be so much more available here for the underpriviliged. What Randy does is amazing and God has surely blessed him with a kind heart. So, now you are wondering who I am, right Randy. My name was Pam Batchelder and I was Smyrna's Town Manager for a while as well as being part of the Batchelder family back in the "day".....keep giving Randy, God is smiling right back at you!
On 1/6/09 at 1:46 AM,
sux2beeu wrote:
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now lets hope Cullins don"t talk about people who needed some help! that looks like my girlfriend helping dish out the food! way two go christa!
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