Area serves up free Christmas meals

About 700 people live in Athol, Idaho, according to 2010 census figures.

But the small community isn’t afraid of big parties. On Christmas Day, they’ll feed more than 150 people during their annual community Christmas dinner.

“A lot of restaurants are closed that day, and a lot of people don’t have anywhere to go,” said Dan Holmes, one of the organizers. “It’s not a huge sacrifice for us, and if they don’t have anywhere to go, they sit home alone.”

Free Christmas Day meals are not as plentiful as Thanksgiving Day offerings. Some churches and shelters offer meals before or after church services. But everyone-welcome meals are harder to find Christmas Day, because it’s such a family day.

But groups which do offer Christmas meals are proud of their traditions. Here’s a list of Christmas Day meals, free and open to all. Some events will also have gifts for the kids, and Santa might ho-ho-ho his way to the buffet line, too.

Eastern Washington

• St. Charles Church in north Spokane, 4515 N. Alberta St. 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. (509) 327-9573.

• VFW Post 3067 in Deer Park, 29 E. First St. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. (509) 276-5761.

North Idaho

• Post Falls Senior Center, 1215 E. Third Ave. 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (208) 773-9582.

• KC’s Breakfast Club in Post Falls, 740 Cecil Rd., Suite 101. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (208) 773-3764.

• G.W. Hunters in Post Falls, 615 N. Spokane St. (208) 777-9388.

• Sandpoint Christmas community dinner, sponsored by Bonner Gospel Mission and 10 area churches. Sandpoint Community Hall, 204 S. First Ave. Noon to 3 p.m. (208) 263-0869.

• Athol Community Center, 30355 N. Third St., 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (208) 660-1176 or (208) 691-7961.

• Lutheran Church of the Master in Coeur d’Alene. 4800 N. Ramsey Rd. 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (208) 765-1002 .