PORT ANGELES — The doors to the Salvation Army Port Angeles Corps’ annual Christmas dinner were open to anyone, including a cat in a carrier and three well-behaved dogs who appeared to be holding out hope that a plate laden with ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and ambrosia salad might suddenly land on the floor next to them.
No such luck.
The Salvation Army anticipated serving 120 to 150 people a traditional Christmas meal on Tuesday that included five different kinds of pie, said Captain Crystal Birks.
It based its estimate on the 120 people who took part in its Thanksgiving dinner as well as the 100 people to whom it serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday.
Those numbers represent a growing need for assistance, Birks said.
She had seen more new faces recently — from the those who are homeless to young families to seniors on fixed incomes — particularly at the end of the month, when people start to run out of money.
“We don’t just serve the homeless but anyone who needs assistance,” Birks said.
This Christmas, the Salvation Army provided close to 200 families in Port Angeles and Forks with gifts for children and gift cards for food.
Almost 400 children received clothing and toys from its Angel Tree program.
Judi Elgar was among the volunteers on Tuesday who served heaping plates of food prepared in the Salvation Army’s commercial kitchen.
“I am so happy to help here,” the retired landscape architect said. “I try to do everything I can.”
Retired Salvation Army Major Merry Svenson, who now works as a grant writer for the organization, said Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, and breakfast and lunch, are more than just about food.
“Meals are a great way to socialize as well as sit down and talk to and get to know the person next to you,” she said.
Dora Ragland and Ellen White Face were in no hurry to rush off after they had finished their dinners.
“It’s awesome. It’s like being with family and friends,” said Ragland, who remembered when the event was held at the old Salvation Army building on the west side of Peabody Street.
White Face has been in Port Angeles for less than a month; the Christmas dinner was her first visit to the Salvation Army.
Not only was the meal “excellent,” she said, but she loved the local weather compared to that in her home state of South Dakota.
The Red Kettle Campaign, which is the Salvation Army’s biggest fundraiser and supports events like the Christmas dinner and other programs, raised $23,000 toward its $30,000 goal this year, Birks said.
Even though the kettles were put away until next Christmas, Birks said people can still donate online at centralusa.salvationarmy.org/usc/red-kettle-campaign. That money will stay local to assist those in the community, she said.
________
Reporter Paula Hunt can be reached by email at paula.hunt@peninsuladailynews.com.
