Winnipeg December 8, 2012 – An early morning blanketing of snow was not enough to dispel appetites as members of the West End and Spence communities made their way down slick roads and sidewalks to the area church, Lutheran Church of the Cross (LCC), for the second Annual Community Christmas Breakfast.
Nearly 250 people were greeted by the smell of pancakes and sausages as they headed down to the basement auditorium to fill up with a hearty breakfast and listen to Christmas tunes played by the pianist.
During the breakfast Heidi Gerrard, organizer of the event, bustled about the auditorium serving food at the front, then heading over to the juice and coffee tables to make sure all the food and drink went out smoothly.LCC’s pastor, Kolleen Karlowsky-Clark, greeted community members as they arrived in the auditorium, welcoming both familiar and new faces.
In the kitchen, cooks Ron Yaworski, Amber McInnes, Leslie Holden, and Bernie, Ryan, and Jonathan Da Silva, were busy working to keep the serving dishes full. Eggs, pancakes and sausages left the kitchen in huge trays to feed the hungry line of people. The kitchen staff worked tirelessly all morning, so much so Holden joked about grilling pancakes in her dreams.
For many in attendance the occasion was a chance to meet up with friends and family members and have a relaxed meal with their loved ones. Members of the deaf community also came to the breakfast and taught Pastor Kolleen how to sign ‘Merry Christmas.’ One gentleman even gave a great Santa Claus impression, chuckling and holding his full belly.
Although the community breakfast was a lighthearted event, it was an important and much appreciated meal for many who would not have had the resources to cook up eggs, sausages, and pancakes at home. The breakfast was free to all who attended, and the ladies serving up the food encouraged everyone to take second and third helpings.
At 11 a.m. the breakfast was winding down and people began to depart and go their separate ways. As a treat to the families that stayed till the end, organizers offered them plates of left over sausages to take home — a comfort that they were excited to accept.
The annual breakfast, organized by LCC’s Outreach Committee and hosted by the church’s members and volunteers from the community, is in its second year. Every year LCC hosts the breakfast in hopes of sharing Christmas spirit, fellowship, and providing a warm comforting meal to all.
