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Providing a wonderful holiday supper
Help still needed for cherished annual dinner

Sparky the puppy

Sparky the puppy

Members of the Williams Kiwanis Club have been working hard to prepare for this year's Williams Community Holiday Dinner. This Christmas marks the fifth year for the cherished seasonal event, which is slated to begin at noon Dec. 16. The event will be held at Doc Holliday's Steakhouse.

According to organizers, the dinner is intended to provide the community with a special family holiday dinner and has been particularly designed for those who may need a little help around the holidays. Over 350 individuals attended last year, with more expected to turn out for the 2007 holiday dinner. Officials with the Williams Lions Club, members of Williams Rotary and the Masons are all working together on the dinner, according to event organizer Diana Croteau.

Children who attend the dinner are given a gift from none other than Santa Claus himself, Croteau said. Bicycle raffles are also planned during the event for children in a number of different age groups.

Sparky the puppy

Each child will also be presented with a Sparky the Puppy doll from Avon. Sparky dolls can be purchased at a cost of $17 each. The dolls will be presented to children at the holiday dinner thanks to the work of Virginia Quinn and Carol Glassburn of the Williams Needs and Angel Committee (WNAC). Organizers are hoping to sell at least 200 Sparky dolls for the dinner. A portion of the proceeds from the sale goes toward the WNAC. Quinn said more donations are needed for the dolls.

"We need to get donations for about another 100," Quinn said, adding that she is working with Avon for the event. "This is our second fundraiser for Williams."

Organizers with Kiwanis are still seeking community sponsors for the community dinner for the following age groups: 0-2-years-old, 3-4-years-old, 5-6-years-old, 7-8-years-old, 9-10-years-old and 11-12-years-old. Sponsorships cost $125. The group is also seeking financial support from local service organizations as well as volunteer help from members of the community who wish to get involved in the community dinner. Volunteers are needed to help with set up, serving of the guests in attendance the day of the event and in preparing the food the day before the event.

"It's free to the community," Croteau said. "We have volunteers that prepare the dinner and we serve it. Santa will be there."

Croteau said she wanted to thank the owners of Doc Holliday's for their generosity in allowing the dinner to be held at the restaurant.

"The day before the event we are looking for volunteers to come in and help prep the food. The day of the event we are looking for people. There's a whole gamut of things that need to be done that day. Kevin and Sherrill Kennelly allowed us their restaurant to use for the day, along with one of their cooks. Their son Tom has been a big help this year in putting this together with us."


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