Ernie Bailey, left, and Anthony Thilmony stand by their “work in progress” project for the Community Christmas Eve Dinner. They have built this box that will slide into the back of a pickup to transport the food. It is big enough to transport 23 pans of hot food, which will be placed in hot water. Bailey had this ice house gas heater, which he never used, and they put the tractor stack on top. They will travel from the VFW Club to the Valley City Eagles to pick up the food and bring it to the St. Catherine School gymnasium. They are confident everything will work. (Jean Schlegel/VCTR)

By Jean Schlegel
Valley City Times-Record

Anthony Thilmony and Ernie Bailey of Valley City had been thinking for several months about solving a problem connected with the Community Christmas Eve dinner.
After Norm Erber of Oriska said he wouldn’t be cooking and transporting the food to the dinner anymore, people were talking about what they could do about this problem. With Erber’s departure after many years on cooking duty, many volunteers have stepped forward to fill the void.
Thilmony and Bailey say they have what they call their “work in progress” solution to keeping the food warm as it is being transported to St. Catherine School gymnasium for the Christmas Eve Dinner.
The two men built a box that will slide into the back of a pickup to transport the food. Their box invention is big enough to transport 23 pans of food, which sit in hot water. They have it heated with an ice house gas heater, and the smoke stack is actually a tractor stack. They don’t plan on painting it for this year’s dinner because  the food might take on the smell of the paint, but they will paint it after the dinner.
The two men’s brainstorm is kind of a trial and error project, but they’re pretty sure it will work. They thought this would take the worry out of wondering how they will transport the food and still keep it warm and not spilling all over.
Thilmony and Bailey said they have quite a bit of money stuck into the project, but they don’t mind because it’s their contribution to the community dinner. Thilmony has also been head of the transportation committee for a number of years. He has become so well organized with this job, that other volunteers know just what to do, making his job easier. He generally has about 30 volunteers, willing to give rides to people to the dinner. This year he has from 20 to 25 people lined up, but could use a few more (call him at 840-8016). Last year, they delivered 300 meals in less than an houra-and-a-half. Thilmony also gives a lot of credit to Pat Hansen, director of South Central Adult Center. She drives their van that can transport people in wheel chairs to the dinner.
“I’m very proud of our volunteers,” Thilmony said.
This will be Bailey’s first time participating as a community dinner volunteer. He’s originally from Tennessee and generally goes home to visit family there, but this year he won’t be doing that. He said he’s willing to do anything Thilmony tells him needs to be done.
Anyone needing a meal delivered, call the Senior Citizen Center at 845-4300 prior to Dec. 24 (they are taking calls now). After that, call 845-0556. People are urged, however, to try and make it to the dinner and socialize, since that’s the whole idea of having the dinner so people don’t have to be alone on Christmas Eve.
Anyone still wishing to volunteer can call co-chairs, Rayma Fiegen (845-1224) or Charlene Windish (840-1987).