photo by: Dylan Lysen

Volunteers Natalie Griffin, center, and Lisa Miller, right, share a laugh as they prepare meals for the Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Along with Susan Thomas, the group volunteered to help put together 650 meals that were delivered across Lawrence.

The Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner is a special event because it brings people from all walks of life together on a special day, said Richard Njoroge.

On Wednesday, hundreds of visitors and volunteers — from the local homeless community to the former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius — either enjoyed a warm meal or helped serve others during the 26th annual holiday dinner in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, 946 Vermont St.

“We have different kinds of people here,” said Njoroge, a 19-year volunteer. “You see everybody talk to one another as a family, whether you are homeless or here to volunteer.”

photo by: Dylan Lysen

Former Kansas Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, right, helps clean up a table for Ruth Swain, left, at the Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner on Dec. 25, 2019.

Njoroge, a Lawrence business owner, said he always volunteers for the event because he likes to help provide for the local community.

“It’s something I’ll always do,” he said. “It just gives you a good feeling at the end of the day that I’ve done something for the community.”

Volunteers served many warm meals to those hundreds of people who visited the church while many other volunteers helped put together and deliver an additional 650 meals across the Lawrence community, Deb Engstrom, an organizer of the event, said midway through the dinner.

photo by: Dylan Lysen

Beverly Billings, left, talks to a guest of the Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

The visitors could be seen gobbling up the food and Engstrom said she didn’t expect much to be left over when the day was done.

The volunteers began preparing the food at 6 a.m. Wednesday, cooking 68 turkeys, 44 hams and 300 pounds of potatoes. The dinner also had several other holiday staples, such as green beans, dinner rolls, and cakes and cookies for dessert.

Although preparing the meal is never easy, Engstrom said it’s always worth it.

“My favorite part is being here with the people,” she said. “The planning is necessary only so this can happen.”

photo by: Dylan Lysen

David Ludwick performs holiday songs on the guitar during the Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019.

Along with the meal, visitors were surrounded by holiday decorations while the room was filled with the festive sounds of Christmas songs. Several dressed up for the occasion, such as Ruth Swain, who wore a red reindeer antler cap while enjoying her meal.

Swain said she’s been attending the event for the last three years. Though she started out by volunteering — helping slice “a gazillion” pies — there are so many volunteers helping out this year she just came to enjoy the atmosphere and a nice meal.

However, Swain said her services would be available, if needed.

“I mean, I can stay if they need help,” Swain said with a laugh.

photo by: Dylan Lysen

Irma Tesar prepares desserts for the Lawrence Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2019. Tesar has been volunteering for the annual holiday meal for “several years,” she said.

The event is great because it allows Lawrence residents to help give back to their community, even if they don’t have a lot of money to share, said Tiffany Asher, who was volunteering by delivering meals with her husband Matt Asher and her father-in-law Gene Asher.

It is a good family holiday experience as well, Tiffany Asher said. She noted the event allows her two boys — ages 3 and 7 months — to learn what the holiday season is all about.

“It’s nice to have the kids with us so they can see how lucky they are and how to help other people,” she said.

photo by: Dylan Lysen

Volunteers lined up paper bags that would eventually be filled with Christmas meals prepared for delivery across the Lawrence community on Dec. 25, 2019. Organizers said about 650 meals would be delivered.