CARBONDALE (WSIL) -- Annual Christmas dinners put on by communities in our region are having to cancel in-person dining due to COVID-19, leaving many without a holiday meal.
St. Francis Xavier church in Carbondale says they didn't want to lose a tradition of more than 20 years, prompting them to come up with a drive-thru dinner format.
Organizers Scott Thorne says while the church is cutting back on its normal number of food items, volunteers are still serving up a traditional dinner on Christmas day.
"We want to try maintain some of the traditions, or as many as we can this Holiday season," Thorne explains. "There's a lot of people, especially in the Carbondale region, who wouldn't be getting a Christmas dinner otherwise."
St. Francis normally serves around 250 meals each Christmas, this year they expect to serve about 100 more to make up for other groups having to cancel.
The dinner is set to start at noon and continue until 2 p.m.
Those individuals on foot should come to the Elm Street side (under the carport) to pick up meals. If you are homebound and require meal(s) to be delivered, please call the parish office, 457-4556, to schedule delivery no later than Tuesday, December 22nd.
- St. Francis Xavier
Thorne adds people in vehicles should come into the parking lot off the Walnut Street side, and meals will be distributed to their car.
