Hundreds share Windsor’s free holiday dinner

Hundreds of Windsor residents enjoyed a Christmas turkey dinner and musical entertainment Dec. 13, at the Vineyard of Faith Lutheran Church on Arata Lane. Volunteers and family members also delivered the free meals to those who were unable to attend.

Gary Quackenbush, executive director and founder of the Windsor Care Network, estimates 1,000 dinners were prepared Saturday and at the Nov. 15 Thanksgiving dinner, held at the Windsor Community United Methodist Church.

It’s the fifth year the Windsor Care Network has offered the free holiday meals. Five churches in Windsor participate in the Windsor Care Network, and a sixth, NewSong Church, is coming on board, Quackenbush said.

“We want a church involved in each major section of Windsor,” he said.

People started showing up at 11 a.m. for the noon-3 p.m. Christmas dinner, said Lonnie Felcher, Vineyard of Faith pastor.

“The fun part is watching the fellowship,” he said.

The Windsor Care Network also makes phone checks on residents who are living alone.

“We cater to the Hispanic community and seniors. A lot of them live alone, are shut-ins or disabled,” Quackenbush said.

“The sense of community is growing. We want to make this a large community of interaction. We hope to do an Easter dinner, and I’d like to see a New Year’s dinner.”

Musical entertainment was provided Saturday by the Vinyl Revival singing group and students at the Windsor Christian Academy.

Other weekend events in Windsor included a Saturday Open House at the Windsor Historical Society and Museum, with wine and refreshments for members, volunteers and donors, and the serving of Stone Soup Sunday at the final Windsor Farmers Market of the year.

Tiffany Bronzan, the Windsor Regional Library’s children’s librarian, read the classic “Stone Soup” folk story about peasants who overcome their reluctance to share their meager provisions when three soldiers share their secret about making a fine soup from stones.

As in that story, everyone attending the market was invited to add one ingredient to the Community Stone Soup.

Market manager Tina Castelli prepared both a meat and meatless soup for those attending the market.

Children at the Kidz Dig It table decorated holiday cookies, and teens and children from local choirs sang Christmas carols.

Contact Windsor Towns ?Correspondent James Lanaras at WindsorTownNews@gmail.com.