Free events offer food for the soul, stomach

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Charles Benson and MoGlorietta Dixon, both of Gary, participate in the 15th annual "To Feed the Hungry" meal served by the Soul Winners of Saints Home Church of God in Christ in this December 2009 photo. | Sun-Times Media File

With Christmas coming in 10 days I figured I’d give you a heads-up on a couple of free events that will offer food for the soul and stomach.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Christmas Eve — or until they run out of food — the Soul Winners of Saints Home Church of God in Christ are feeding the hungry with free chili, hot dogs and Polish sausages on the northeast corner of 5th Avenue and Broadway.

Every Christmas Eve for the past 17 years the members pitch a huge tent with portable heaters and cook and serve food to whomever enters the tent. They will pray for you and feed you. I’ve covered the event for quite a while and have never been able to leave the event without indulging in a steamy hot bowl of chili with shredded cheese and oyster crackers. I can confirm, as any journalist would, the chili is delicious.

It is also a welcoming site for those who happen to notice the tent while running last-minute Christmas errands or just walking by with curiosity.

For more information or to make a donation supporting the event, contact elder Tommy Dolton at 644-8084.

Spirit of Christmas dinner

From 1 to 4 p.m. Christmas Day, state Rep. Vernon G. Smith, D-Gary, is holding the 24th annual Spirit of Christmas Dinner at the Gary campus of Ivy Tech Community College, 1440 E. 35th Avenue.

As always, Smith said the free dinner is primarily for residents of Gary, New Chicago, Lake Station and Hobart, but all are welcome.

Those without a place to go or who are unable to be with family and friends Christmas Day are invited to spend time with others in fellowship and food. Those attending the dinner are treated with restaurant-style service and there is plenty of food.

Call Smith at 887-2046 to reserve a place for dinner or to volunteer. Volunteers are needed to decorate the dining area, prep the dining tables, serve the food, wait on the attendees and clean up.

Transportation will be available for the dinner and details will appear in the Post-Tribune at a later date. The dinner is hosted with Joyce Washington-Price, Dwight Pointer and Dwight Williams, and honors Smith’s mother, the late Rev. Julia E. Smith and the late Patricia Tillotson, a former educator in the Gary Community School Corp.

Be sure to cut out or save this column as a reminder when the dates for these events come closer.