Christmas Meal Facts:
- Christmas Day, Dec. 25, from noon to 3 PM
- Goddard Riverside Community Center, 593 Columbus Ave. (at 88th)
- Free and open to all – not restricted by locality or income
Goddard Riverside Community Center will throw open its doors on Christmas for the city’s warmest and most welcoming holiday meal.
The ambiance says “café,” not “soup kitchen.” Smiling volunteers greet guests and show them to their tables, which are covered with tablecloths and decorated with fresh flowers. More volunteers serve them plates loaded with turkey and trimmings.
As a live vocalist warbles holiday tunes, people from all walks of life dine together. Guests and servers hug and chat. Many have been coming here for years.
“By the end of the day, it’s hard to tell who’s a volunteer and who’s a guest,” said Evie Joselow, Director of Individual, Group and Corporate Volunteer Programs at Goddard Riverside.
Since there are fewer hot meals available on Christmas than Thanksgiving, this dinner is particularly important for our community. Many of our neighbors who come to dine wouldn’t get a hot meal otherwise. We welcome you to experience the holiday with us and meet our guests and volunteers.