Sparta Community Christmas Dinner feeds hundreds safely

SPARTA, Wis. (WKBT) – People in Sparta are enjoying the holidays after an annual tradition. Volunteers say, the Sparta Community Christmas Dinner is much needed after a year of hardship.

“Merry Christmas to everybody!”

Today, people in Sparta have full bellies.

“Turkey, our ham, sweet potatoes, green beans, mashed potatoes, gravy. And then we have pies,” are just a few of the dinner options in the free Christmas meal according to volunteer Fawn Brickman.  “We are very traditional.”

Brickman says the Annual Christmas dinner is 33 years old.

The main goal, traditions and feeding their neighbors.

“It’s a tradition, my mom, my son and I have. We come to the community Christmas dinner and spend time together,” said Steven Hale.

“Basically just making sure that folks around the community have a good meal regardless of if they need it, they just want to do some family bonding, you know, just being part of the community,” said Brickman.

Some community members, like Steven, are still dining in.

“I believe it’s our eighth year,” said Hale.

While others had the option to pick up or get the meal delivered.

“The deliveries are a lot more, the pickups and to-go orders are a lot more. We really only have 12 tables here because of the fact that we want to do social distancing,” said Brickman.

The need in the community, also is reflected by the donations.

“We did not get our usual donations this year for desserts, because businesses are hit a little bit harder this year,” said Brickman.

The community stepped up. Volunteers made pies, cookies, brownies, and countless other desserts for families.

“The fact that we can make sure that they have a little bit of tradition is the best part,” said Brickman.

A tradition that lives on, despite a year full of obstacles. Brickman says every year they feed around 800 to one thousand people. This year they expect to serve around the same number again.

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