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.
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For much of Johnson County, Christmas Day is a time to gather with family, traditionally around a big meal to celebrate the season.
But many other people don’t have that experience. They don’t have family to come together with, or don’t have the resources for a holiday feast.
They deserve a place to celebrate, said Andy Kinsey, pastor at Grace United Methodist Church.
“These ministries have taken a life of their own, and hopefully it helps some families who might need a little extra right now,” he said.
Grace will once again host its Christmas Day dinner, a free banquet open to the entire community. People can come to the church for ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and dessert — everything needed to celebrate to holiday together.
While the dinner is an opportunity for the church to share with the community, it continues to address the issue of food insecurity throughout Johnson County, Kinsey said.
“It’s a gift, but it’s also a chance to raise awareness. And there is a need,” he said. “We’re thankful we have resources that we can use to help and serve.”
Grace United Methodist Church started the outreach effort in the wake of the 2008 recession. The discussion started with wanting to offer a free meal — similar to the annual Johnson County Thanksgiving Banquet — which the entire community could enjoy.
When the first dinner was hosted in 2008, church volunteers served 60 people. Recent Christmases have seen more than 800 people fed, including in 2020, when the event was drive-through and delivery only, Kinsey said.
The church takes great joy in being able to present the dinner to the community.
“Food insecurity and homelessness have been two key areas where we’ve tried to focus on and help raise awareness, and to address the problem,” Kinsey said.
Serving of the meals will be broken up into three different ways on Dec. 25. Delivery meals — which need to be requested by Dec. 20 — is set from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Carry-out meals can be picked up from 2 to 4 p.m., and a dine-in portion of the meal is scheduled from 4 to 6 p.m.
“It’s kind of one of those things where we’re able to assist and at least provide a small gift for some families who may not have a lot to look forward to on Christmas,” Kinsey said.
IF YOU GO
Christmas dinner
What: A free holiday meal provided through delivery, carry-out or dine-in. The event is open to the public.
When: Dec. 25
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams Drive, Franklin
Schedule: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. for delivery, 2-4 p.m. for carry-out, 4-6 p.m. dine in.
How to request delivery: Call 317-736-7962 to make arrangements by Dec. 20.
Information: franklingrace.org
