By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News

Each year, to help offset holiday loneliness or food insecurity, Community Cares hosts a free traditional Christmas Dinner for residents across Castle Country. The 2025 event takes place on Thursday, Dec. 25, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carbon County Events Center.

Brenda Deeter joined the KOAL newsroom to discuss the event and share information on how the community can get involved. 

“Our main focus on this was so that people aren’t by themselves on Christmas Day, because there are a lot of people out there who are by themselves,” explained Deeter. “We have people who come for the very first time by themselves. They’re going to be put at a table with somebody else, and they’re going to have a new friend for that before they leave.”

Entering its 13th year of service, Deeter credited the event’s longevity to the dedicated planning committee. “There’s a great committee, lots of great people that help out with this and keep it going. And, of course, the donations from the community, because that’s how we do it. We get donations from the communities and clubs and stuff to put this event on.”

Continuing on the theme of donations, Deeter spoke on some of the main features of the event,” We have turkey and ham and the whole thing, and it’s decorated up real nice. Sutherland’s has donated 50 poinsettias to us from the very first year. We have candy bags. We have Christmas books for the kids. People make sugar cookies for us, so people can sit down and decorate cookies that they can take home if they want. But people come in, and my volunteers set them at a table. They serve them. They don’t have to do anything but sit at the table and visit. They get served at the table. They clean it up. They get served their dessert there, and then sit and visit and get their candy bags.”

To encourage public involvement, Community Cares has partnered with WaFd Bank to collect donations. “You can make donations at the window, or you can find one of us on the committee. If you run into us or whatever, you know, we can take your donation to and deposit it for you,” shared Deeter.

One major change coming to the event is a switch in venue. Typically held at Utah State University Eastern, the event has switched over to the Carbon County Events Center for the 2025 rendition.

For those unable to attend in person or who struggle with travel, Community Cares offers pickup and in-home meal delivery. “You can call one of us, and we will set it up so that someone, you know, one of our volunteers, will come and pick you up and take you home, also so that you don’t miss. A lot of these people walk, and some walk from a distance, but this is going to be even farther. So, yeah, you need to just give us a call, and we’ll make sure that you get there.”

For these services, contact either 820-8140, 820-6631 or 820-6628.

Closing our conversation, Deeter shared,” Bring your families, bring your neighbors. If you know someone who’s shut-in, grab them and bring them, or call us so we can deliver them a meal. It’s Christmas Day, and people shouldn’t be left alone.”

The Community Cares Christmas Dinner takes place on Thursday, Dec. 25 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Carbon County Events Center.