Deb Engstrom had to eat and talk at the same time Friday afternoon. As she sat down with her plate in an office in Lawrence’s First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St., holiday volunteers kept poking their heads in to ask her questions.

“Deb, we’re low on pies,” one said.

“Well, just let them know and they’ll go get you more,” Engstrom said with a wave of her hand.

For the past 22 years, Engstrom has volunteered as a coordinator of Lawrence’s annual Community Christmas Dinner. And for the past 22 years she hasn’t minded juggling all the tasks the position entails on Christmas Day.

“We just plan around it,” she said. “It’s just a part of what I do every year. I expect to do it.”

Scores of volunteers and people looking for a warm meal or a friendly face filled the church’s halls and dining room throughout the afternoon.

Poinsettias sat atop red and green tablecloths, holiday wreaths lined the walls and free, hand-knit hats and mittens lay out for anyone needing to keep warm.

At any given moment there were perhaps 100 people eating, laughing and singing, with dozens of volunteers serving food, playing music, clearing tables and making small talk with their guests.

Each year the free dinner serves a cross-section of people from around Lawrence, Engstrom said. Some may be homeless, living in a shelter or simply in need of a friendly face. All are welcome, she said.

In addition, volunteers wait in line by the dozens to pick up meals and deliver them all over town, Engstrom said. Last year the group delivered around 700 meals.

“That’s also very gratifying because it’s people who might not get a meal or see another person today,” she said. “They might be shut in, or they might not have family.”

Carol Harris said she’s a caretaker by profession, so volunteering to deliver meals on Christmas comes naturally to her.

“It’s a blessing to serve people,” she said.

Some years it’s more work than others, Harris said, especially when the weather doesn’t cooperate.

“I can remember, six or seven years back, when we had a horrific snow and people couldn’t come out and we had to double up,” she said. “They plowed down the streets, and the snow that they plowed was higher than my husband was tall.”

Joan Hoover sat and ate with her son Friday afternoon. This year is her second time attending the community meal, she said.

When asked what she enjoys about the meal, Hoover quickly replied, “The food; it’s always good.”

Hoover also said she enjoys the atmosphere and the friendly faces, and is grateful to the people who make it happen.

“The thanks always goes to the volunteers,” Hoover said.