The Norman Transcript

Opinion

Discussion

January 2, 2013

Dinner was a success

The Norman Transcript

NORMAN — Editor, The Transcript:

The 26 annual Norman Christmas Day Community Dinner hosted from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Norman High School Commons cafeteria received overwhelming support from volunteers, banks, businesses and private donations again this year.

Weather always has an effect on attendance, as it did on Christmas Day in 1987 and 2009, and this year was no different. However, like the post office, the Christmas dinner never closes for hail, sleet, snow, blizzards or even tornados. The doors are always open to serve our community at Christmastime, even if only a handful of people show up.

While we served around 700 fewer guests through the serving lines this year, we were pleased that those who stayed away did so because they did not want to brave the icy roads and sidewalks. No need for broken limbs. Still, we had a good number come to the dinner (590 through the serving lines). Also there were 300 home deliveries and 400 carryout meals.

The community knows by now that this dinner is free and is for everyone — those who may need a place to eat or who just want to share the Christmas spirit with someone. Our motto, “No one should be alone on Christmas Day,” has indeed reached our citizens. We were especially pleased to have a large number of children at the dinner.

To witness the spirit of giving from this community (rain or shine) is immensely rewarding, especially when our guests know that the people in this community really care about them. The highlight of the day has to be the smiling faces of those receiving toys, gloves, scarves, hats, toiletries, candy and other gifts for children, teens and adults.

Assistance and financial support from the banks, businesses and many individuals are greatly appreciated and will be recognized later in a special way in The Transcript. However, I would like to thank those anonymous donors and those who contributed toys, scarves, gloves, candy and flowers.

A special thanks to the Christmas Store, DHS, Secret Santa, Lohmann’s Good Things, Sooner Mall, La Baguette, Sweets & Spurs, firefighters and the OEC Foundation for its grant. Also, many thanks to the folks at St. Michael’s, the community volunteers, Mayor Cindy Rosenthal, honorary chairperson, and The Norman Transcript and The Daily Oklahoma for covering the event.

Happy New Year.

BOB MAGARIAN,

Director of the Norman Christmas Day Community Dinner

For local news and more, subscribe to The Norman Transcript Smart Edition, or our print edition.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Opinion
  • You’ve got to have faith

    Editor, The Transcript: My name is Alice Graham. I live in Leesville, SC and I’m a songwriter/musician. I wrote this song the following morning as I drove to work. I asked the question, “What is it that Moore needs the most today?” and the ...

    May 25, 2013

  • We are disaster central

    Oklahoma is disaster central. Per capita, the state has had more tornadoes and natural catastrophes than any other state. Texas and California have had more but they are much larger and have far more people than Oklahoma....

    May 25, 2013

  • “Free Kate” campaign missing the point

    Apparently, it is not enough to tolerate, accept or even endorse the gay agenda. Now, unless you tolerate and accept criminal behavior committed by gays, you are a hater....

    May 25, 2013

  • Report price gouging

    A report on a national news website claims a store was reported for selling a case of water for $40. Attorney General Scott Pruitt’s office is investigating....

    May 25, 2013

  • Johnson analyzed issue well

    Editor, The Transcript: I would like to thank Jim Johnson for his thoughtful, thorough and sensible analysis of the gun situation in our country.  He has made a meaningful contribution to what one hopes will become a civilized ...

    May 24, 2013

  • New faces on the bench

    Cleveland County is one step closer to getting another district judge. House members overwhelmingly approved the legislation moving a vacant seat from Seminole County in eastern Oklahoma to Cleveland County....

    May 24, 2013

  • The randomness of it all

    A drive through the fringe streets of the damaged areas in Moore and south Oklahoma City this week shows the randomness of Monday’s tornado. Homes that appear to have little or no damage stand next to ones that are ready to be pushed over....

    May 24, 2013

  • Diana Frost letter correction

    Letter correction: A letter to the editor from Diana Frost, originally published in March 2012, was inadvertently published again in Sunday’s paper. The Transcript apologizes for the error....

    May 23, 2013

  • Teachers should be proud

    Editor, The Transcript: He walked by the camera in his red OU T-shirt, splattered with dirt, hair disheveled, and cuts on his face. He told the reporter about helping rescue people from the rubble of the tornado. He spoke of his experience ...

    May 23, 2013

  • Misinformation clouds global warming

    Next spring I will again have to update my lecture on global warming. Atmospheric carbon dioxide is now rising above the 400 ppm level for the first time in perhaps 5 million years — a scenario humans have never experienced. In my Geology ...

    May 23, 2013