Diners pray before eating during the 2018 Christmas Day dinner at Grace United Methodist Church. This year’s free event will be held Saturday, with delivery, carry-out and dine in options.
Diners pray before eating during the 2018 Christmas Day dinner at Grace United Methodist Church. This year’s free event will be held Dec. 25, with delivery, carry-out and dine in options.
Christmas is a time to come together — as a family and a community.
One of Johnson County’s finest traditions brings people together at the same table to eat Christmas dinner as one, or take it back to your own home.
Here is what you need to know about the event:
What is it?
The community Christmas dinner was envisioned by Grace United Methodist Church as a way to unite the community around a shared meal at Christmastime. Residents who are in need of a meal on Saturday, individuals who have no other family to share dinner with or families hoping to connect to the greater community are all invited to eat as one.
How did this get started?
Organizers founded the event in 2008, in the wake of the historic floods that year as well as the recession. They modeled it after the Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet, which was also founded that year, as a way to bring the community together.
How can I take part?
Carry out will be from 2-4 p.m. Saturday, with dine in scheduled from 4-6 p.m. at Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams St., Franklin. The event is free and open to the public.
How many people does it impact?
Grace hosted about 60 people the first year of the dinner, but in years past, they typically feed hundreds each Christmas. Planners are preparing for about 1,000 people this year.
