The 32nd annual Cortez Community Christmas Dinner served about 400 meals on Christmas Day, highlighting the spirit of community and giving during the holiday season.
The dinner was held from noon to 2 p.m. at the Montezuma County Annex and offered dine-in, takeout and delivery options for residents. Organizer Mary Jo Standard reported a joyful atmosphere as families and individuals shared the holiday meal.
“It’s hard to put a name to the feeling sometimes, because when you walk in, it’s this big, beautiful event where we have community members just sharing a meal, and the atmosphere when I came in was just so happy and joyful on Christmas Day,” Standard told The Journal.
The menu featured ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and pie, with all 50 donated pies gone by the end of the meal. Food was purchased by organizers after fundraising efforts, including $7,000 raised by one volunteer who went door-to-door.
In the final minutes, volunteers sent guests home with extra to-go boxes, leaving only 10 to 15 meals.
About 80 meals were delivered to homes, including some to families.
This year’s dinner marked a transition, relying entirely on community volunteers after challenges that included the death of the longtime head chef and scheduling conflicts among traditional organizers.
“It was just this perfect storm of nobody can do this. So, it was a rallying of the community,” Standard said.
Randi Lewis and Tracy Whelesskonkel of Lunch Lady Catering handled the cooking, starting preparations at 4 a.m. Christmas morning.
“I could have gotten all the volunteers in the world, but it wouldn’t have made a difference if nobody could cook. So, it was such a huge piece that they were willing to get up at 4 a.m. on Christmas morning and come cook for the community,” Standard said.
Further assistance came from Anne Miller of Grace’s Kitchen and volunteers Tess Forth and Caitrin Smith, who helped with food prep, supplies and organizing deliveries.
Standard praised the volunteers for stepping up and emphasized the strength of community involvement.
“I cannot reiterate enough how important I think it is that things like this are led by the community, as opposed to an organization, and there’s so much power behind that for the community,” Standard said.
She added that helpers ranged from delivery drivers to cleanup crews, showing what community-led programs can accomplish.
