With Christmas Day just a few days away, the Jefferson Elks Lodge #2306 is hosting its annual meal.

Jefferson Elks Trustee Bill Berger tells Raccoon Valley Radio the Christmas Day Dinner is free and open to the public. The meal includes turkey, which was donated by Jefferson Hy-Vee, and ham, which was donated by Jefferson Fareway, along with bean casserole, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing and pumpkin pie that is baked by the Jefferson Does Drove #196. Berger points out there are three ways people can reserve a meal, and that includes dining-in, carrying out or delivery for Jefferson residents only. 

Berger notes this is the 57th year that they served a Christmas Day Dinner out of their 59 years of existence. He says the only two years they missed were their inaugural year and the first year during the covid pandemic. Berger talks about why the Jefferson Elks continue to provide this service to the community.

“The things that Jefferson Elks and the Benevolent Protective Order of the Elks stand for: our veterans, our youth, and our community. And our community in this case is our Christmas Dinner that we give back every year. And we feel as though it’s something that’s needed, it’s appreciated (and) we like doing it, it’s volunteering and we like doing it that way.”      

Carry-outs and deliveries will begin at 3:30pm on Christmas Day, with the dine-in meal to be served at 4pm and the doors will open at 3pm. Berger says bingo with donated prizes will follow the meal at the Elks Lodge. The deadline to sign up for a meal is this Friday by calling the Jefferson Elks Lodge at 515-386-2106. Berger adds people can leave a voicemail with their name, address, phone number and the number of meals they need.