These are just a few of the people who are making the Community Christmas Eve Dinner work. In back row, from left, representing Drug Plastics, are Jill McGough, Jon Jury and Eileen Hannig, giving one of several turkeys to Valley City Eagles cook, Jeremy Schwab, and Tom Martin, VFW manager and cook. In front, from left, are Rayma Fiegen and Charlene Windish, co-chairs of the Community Christmas Eve Dinner. Drug Plastics annually donates turkeys for the dinner, and the Viking Bowling League and City Lights Bowling Team will again donate 150 to 200 pounds of ham.  (Jean Schlegel/VCTR)

By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

One couple, Bob and Margaret Schneider,both of whom died this year,were instrumental in getting the Christmas Eve Dinner started in Valley City in 1971, along with several other caring and compassionate people from St. Catherine Church.
Margaret died in April and Bob, five months later, in September of this year. Bob was the youngest of 20 children, and so he was never alone on Christmas Eve, but he knew some people who were, and so he helped in getting the dinner started, especially for those who were lonely or shut-ins.
One of the Schneider’s daughters, Mary Schneider-Marthaller of Bismarck, said, “My dad was never alone or wanted anyone to be alone ... especially during the holidays. Family was very important to him.” The Schneiders raised six children and spent the last few years in Bismarck, closer to family. Marthaller said her father died of a broken heart after his wife died.The purpose of the dinner and social event is still the same as it was 36 years ago: getting people together on Christmas Eve, so they don’t have to spend the time alone.
The invitation goes out to those whose families and friends are scattered elsewhere. College students, widows, widowers, senior couples, single people, those who are stranded, new members of the community, or anyone else wishing to be with others on Christmas Eve, are all welcome to the dinner, which will be served from 6-7:30 p.m. Delivered meals go out earlier.’’

‘It’s a whole new ball game this year’
Co-chairs of the Community Christmas Eve Dinner, Rayma Fiegen and Charlene Windish, say plans for this year's 36th annual community non-denominational event are moving along.
However;  “It’s a whole new ball game this year,” Fiegen said.
Since Norm Erber of Oriska, the main chef for the dinner for many years, retired, there are many new people who have volunteered to fill in where Erber left off. But help is still needed in many areas.
Many businesses, organizations and individuals continue to donate money, talent and their time to make this event another big success for the community. It takes about 300 pounds of turkey and nearly as much ham to feed approximately 750 people, which is the number being planned for this year.
Bank Forward and Alliance Pipeline are offering their large, outdoor grills for cooking some of the dinner. Also, Ernie Bailey, of Warren Transport, is building a thermo box with racks to put in a pickup and transport the food from the Eagles and the VFW Club to St. Catherine gym where the dinner will be served.
So far, some of the main contributors for the dinner are Drug Plastics, which has made an annual contribution of buying several turkeys; the Viking Bowling League and City Lights Bowling Team will again donate 150-200 pounds of ham, store managers: Rick Idland of Leevers, Cindy Waagen of MarketPlace Foods, and Wayne Kuntz of Pamida, who are giving candy and nuts. Bob Maresh has agreed to make his famous oyster stew again, as he has for many years. Last year he had fresh oysters shipped in from Alaska.
Other people who are giving of their time and talents are chefs, Jeremy Schwab from the Valley City Eagles, and Tom Martin from the VFW Club. Jim Flynn, Rudy Jenson and Mike Lerud have volunteered to make the dressing this year. New greeters this year will be Jenny and Stella Mueller.
Fiegen and Windish have had the awesome job of coordinating the whole event, in addition to helping out in the kitchen year after year.
There are many others who work behind the scenes, doing much of the hard work, and will continue to do so again this year. Among them are Larry and Mary Lee Robinson, who have pitched in and helped year after year with working in the kitchen and dishing up the food and getting it ready for delivery. Also helping with the meal serving will be Deb and Joe Leitner and Dan and Rhonda Fairfield. Dave and Mary Ann Winkler have once again volunteered with the dining room set-up; and Chris and Woody Westerhausen with the clean-up. Anthony Thilmony is taking care of transportation for the meals to be delivered, and Deverne Hoggarth will help take calls. JoNell Schaefer is head of decorations. Rita Beaudry and the Ina Thomsen family do table favors. There are many others, and some areas have not been confirmed yet, such as entertainment.
This will be the fourth year the meal will be served in St. Catherine School’s gymnasium because it outgrew its former venue in the church basement. The dinner has grown from 47 meals that first year, 36 years ago, to around 790 meals in recent years. Last year, 693 people were served. The meals are free as everything is donated and there are numerous volunteers.
Anyone needing a meal delivered, call the Senior Citizen Center at 845-4300 prior to the Dec. 24. After that, call 845-0556. People are urged, however, to try and make it to the dinner and socialize.

Contributions/volunteers are still needed
Contributions and volunteers to work at the dinner on Christmas Eve are still needed. This is a huge undertaking serving so many people, so many volunteers are needed in many areas.
Anyone wishing to help out in any of the following areas, will be welcomed.
Give one of the group leaders a call. Food preparation, Rayma and Dick Fiegen: 845-1224; Meal serving, Charlene Windish: 840-1987; Dining Room Set-Up, Dave and Mary Ann Winkler: 845-4363; Clean-Up, Chris and Woody Westerhausen: 845-1583; Transportation, call 845-0556 on day of the dinner, Dec. 24. JoNell Schaefer is head of decorations. Her telephone number is 845-1236.
Desserts, cookies, bars, salad donations are also still needed. Bring them to the church on Christmas Eve before 5 p.m.
Financial donations are also needed and welcome. Rita Clancy is in charge of receiving donations this year. Send donations to St. Catherine Church, marked “Christmas Eve Dinner,” or drop them off at the St. Catherine Church office.