The annual Earl Naswell Community Christmas Dinner for the needy takes place from noon to 2 p.m. Dec. 25 upstairs at the Florence Filberg Centre in Courtenay.
The dinner is free of charge and will contain all the trimmings, cooked and served by volunteers.
The event dates back a few decades when the namesake was struggling with life.
Naswell got back on his feet when he found work. He then decided to do something for those down on their luck and started going from business to business collecting food for a dinner. It started with about 10 people.
These days, the event typically attracts 200 to 250 guests. Last year, a total of 325 people were served.
The dinner is made possible by donations of turkeys, vegetables, cakes, desserts, toys and cash.
To volunteer or donate, call Gerry Smith at 250-338-7858, Rob James at 339-1367 or Pam Morrison at 336-8684.
