Tri-Towns Bureau

ONEONTA — Snow kept the turnout lower than usual at the Friends of Christmas Community Christmas Dinner on Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Oneonta.

The event closed about half an hour early because of the weather, but there were still about 200 dinners served at the annual event and delivered to homes.

Carol Forman, one of the organizers, said about 100 fewer meals were served than in previous years.

"We had a lot of request for deliveries," mostly from elderly diners "who were afraid to go out," after they heard weather predictions, she said.

All those who called requesting a delivery received one, Forman said.

"We have a lot of wonderful volunteers" who helped with preparation and serving, she said. "That's what makes the dinner so special. It brings out the best in people."

Dishing out stuffing for diners was Beany Brown of Oneonta, who had recently returned from delivering meals in Davenport. Other servers dished out such items as ham, turkey, peas and mashed potatoes.

Brown said this was the first year she has helped at the dinner. She had plans to be out of town, she said, but the weather forecast changed that.

This was also the first year she spent Christmas without her children, she said. But after bringing holiday meals to others, "this is what Christmas is all about."

"There are so many people who are worse off," she said.

When Scott Keyser, a ninth-grader at Unatego Junior/Senior High School last volunteered at the dinner two years ago, he said, "every table was filled." He agreed with others that the weather was keeping people away.

While checking whether diners needed anything, he said, "My parents are delivering food. I stayed here to help."

Ted Zelnick was one of those who was at the church for Christmas dinner.

"I left New York in '93," he said. This was the third year that he came to the church for dinner. "I really appreciate it — it is a blessing."

Without the meal, he said, he would "be home brooding and moping and dreaming of far-off (warmer) places." But the atmosphere makes the meal "irresistible."

Chava Granett of Oneonta said, the meal "is the best place to get to a community when you are alone on the holiday."

After spending the month ringing bells for the Salvation Army, she said, she welcomed the end of the Christmas season. Looking around the room, she said, "this is the community I needed this year."

Kevin LaBuz, a junior at Oneonta High School, was getting his coat on to take a diner home when he paused to talk about the day.

He said working at the dinner was a kind of tradition in his family since grade school.

"You enjoy helping other people," he said. "You enjoy giving back to the community."

When he delivered meals in the morning, he said, "you could see smiles on their faces when they received the dinners."

And for Pat Torres, of Mount Vision, the meal offered a chance to enjoy a family Christmas dinner without the fuss of cooking.

"I figured we could give a donation and have a good place to have a meal," she said. She was there with her two sons, sister and a friend.

One son, Joe Negron, said, "we had a nice meal."

Ed Forman, one of the organizers, said there will be more leftovers this year because of the fewer people. He said Saturday's Bread, which serves dinners, would receive whatever wasn't used.

"They won't have to cook much this week," he said.

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Mark Boshnack can be reached at (607) 563-1493 or at starsidney@wirelessthinktank.com.