First Christian Church In Champaign To Host Hundreds Christmas Day
First Christian Church in Champaign will host its 8th annual Christmas day dinner on Monday. Silas/Wikimedia Commons/(CC BY-SA 3.0)
Champaign-Urbana area residents who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day have the chance for food and fellowship at First Christian Church in Champaign.
The church is hosting its 8th annual Christmas dinner on Monday. Lynn Barnes coordinates the dinner. She says she was inspired to start the dinner when she read that 50 people showed up for a Christmas dinner at a small church in Ridge Farm, Illinois. "And we thought, 'Wow if they can get 50 people who have that interest in coming together on Christmas day, I bet the impact in Champaign-Urbana would be even more significant,'" Barnes said.
This year, Barnes expects more than 400 people to enjoy the fancy, hot meal at the church on Christmas day.
Children under age 12 will get a small gift.
Barnes adds that 200 volunteers, some from as far away as Effingham help put on the meal.