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Tasty tradition for Christmas
For many, the Christmas season means spending time with family. For volunteers at a free Christmas Day dinner, the definition of family broadens to encompass all who came through the doors at Aulizio’s Banquet Center in Warren.
Robyn Hineman of Cortland, a 15-year volunteer who supervises the kitchen, said she felt compelled to be at Aulizio’s where she could do some good. “I really want to be here. ... This is family.”
Dan Polivka, a Trumbull County commissioner, initiated the event 20 years ago. He said he had help from Terry Armstrong, a friend, and Joe Lordi of Gleaners Food Bank in Youngstown.
“There was a need for such an event,” Polivka said. “At first, it was more for the elderly; now we see more families.”
Polivka said the event began as a dinner for people with nowhere to go for Christmas dinner and first attracted 75 people. He said about 500 would partake of Friday’s dinner of turkey, ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes with gravy, green beans, rolls and butter and beverages and a host of desserts including cake, pie and cheesecake. “It’s the economy,” he said of the large turnout. He credited the volunteers with “making it run smoothly.”
Robyn Hineman’s husband, Jack, and son, Adam, also volunteer. Jack Hineman, who’s been involved 10 years, said, “It’s about serving the community. Time on a holiday is a valuable commodity.”
Adam Hineman, who works various jobs in the kitchen, said he liked participating and volunteering alongside of his parents.
K. Martin Hanawalk has played Santa Claus for 10 years. “It’s about giving back to the community,” the Warren resident said.
Gary and Jean Engstrom came on board as volunteers three years ago. “You go home dog tired but you feel great,” he said. “A lot of people wouldn’t have a Christmas meal without this,” his wife added.
The couple noted that Trumbull County Office of Elderly Affairs provides shuttle transportation for those who need it. “We had 411 reservations and 112 of them were kids. We had 77 rides arranged,” Gary Engstrom said. Last year, he continued, there were 198 reservations but nearly 400 were served meals. This year, he agreed with Polivka’s estimate of 500 served.
Rick Bowser of Pymatuning, near Andover, was volunteering for the second year and plans to return. “This is good thing to do in tough economic times,” he said. “I feel that I’m donating time, which is often more valuable than money. I‘m doing a good deed.”
Pete Orfanos of Warren is no stranger to being a volunteer — he’s a 25-year volunteer with the Red Cross. He’s helped at the dinner three years as a “way to give back to the community.”
As for the guests, there was no shortage of smiles, laughter and upbeat spirit. Children had fun having their images sketched and they received gifts from Santa. Polivka said toys were donated to the cause.
Lori Celedonia and Joseph Goetz of Warren attended with their five children, ranging in age from 4 to 8 years old. “We like to come for the kids to see Santa,” Goetz said. “They love it.”
Juanita Rhine of Howland said she has come every year. “The food is excellent.”
Sandra Plevyak of Leavittsburg attended for the second year with family members and her companion. She learned of the free Christmas event from a friend last year. “If you don’t have the money, this is wonderful. The people go out of their way here,” she said of the volunteers.
Travis Beedy of Warren, who attended with his wife and four children, said the event was time they could spend together. “And the economy is tough,” he said. “The kids had a lot of fun today.”
Ceasar Aulizio provides the use of the banquet center for free. He prepares and donates the gravy and bread stuffing.
Donations from many Warren-area businesses and individuals make the free Christmas meal happen.
Hineman noted that the event would not be possible without the generous donations by businesses and restaurants. “We also send everyone home with care packages ... all the leftovers are packaged up,” she said.
The free Christmas Day dinner is arranged by a core committee of 20 people including Polivka. About 50 volunteers prepare, serve and clean up for the event.