A local business owner is once again asking Chatham-Kent to give back with the Community Care Christmas Dinner.
Brent Ripley from Betty Brite Dry Cleaners is helping organize the 13th annual event on Sunday, December 1 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the WISH Centre in Chatham.
Food donations are still needed and can be dropped off at Betty Brite on Keil Dr. in Chatham.
"Canned goods or if you want to give a bag of potatoes, stuff like that," said Ripley. "Actually I just had a farmer drop off a great big basket of squash. Cases of water, any type of non-perishable stuff is fantastic."
Ripley said any food they don't use, gets donated.
"Soup kitchens show up that night, and we get rid of everything that was too. So anything above and beyond we collect, we buy extra food, it all goes right to the soup kitchens."
This year they are expanding to include home delivery to people who are unable to come to dinner. A number of groups, like Community Living and local hockey teams, have stepped up to help, but more volunteers are always welcome.
"If you'd like to come out and help we would love to have you help," said Ripley. "We decorate the gym in the morning, then we usually have a little lull, and we start serving at 4."
Ripley looks forward to putting the dinner together every year because it reminds him of what Christmas is all about.
"The first one we did, we did in three weeks, just because we wanted to do something and it all came together. We did the first one, we supplied everything the first time. Then after that people started coming on board, and it's just unbelievable what it's turned into."
Ripley added that the one they always need more of is desserts. Those can be dropped off at the WISH Centre the day off the event.
