By Nils Thompson

FROM toddlers to grandparents, and every age in between, smiles were plentiful. Dinner, gifts and cheer were freely given to all who attended the Esquimalt Legion January 12. The New Year’s Dinner tradition is three years strong – and according to key contributors, it continues to improve.

The annual event is a joint effort between Love-Your-City – sponsored by seven churches from Vic West, View Royal and Esquimalt –  and Extreme Outreach. Organizer Cliff Power, head of the latter ministry, called the event “a great miracle of unity.” He also asserted “It will only get better.”

He was not alone in his opinion. Anne-Marie Millington, in her second year as a volunteer, recognized improvements – and an increase in attendance from last year.

As a table host, she kept a keen eye out for empty seats. She also served those who were unable to assist themselves at the lengthy buffet, where several volunteers dished out hot turkey, mashed potatoes, veggies, melt-in-your-mouth stuffing with zing, gravy and cranberry jelly.

Millington, who lives a short walk from the venue, sees such resident-driven, volunteer initiatives as crucial to the well-being of her community.  

“I believe it is important to hold these events so our community will become closer – by closing the gaps of hardships, by addressing them and taking action to repair them. These events are also an opportunity for social barriers to be torn down, and to bring people to the help they need without fear of judgment or rejection.”

Millington sees the involvement of one particular entity as critical.

“God is what makes this event . . . People are brought together through service, faith, love and friendship. Without God, I don’t believe that as much success can be achieved.”

For Patrick Malloy and his nine year old son, Connor, it was their first time at the event. The two volunteers prepared plates of dessert for the estimated 350 people who who filed into the auditorium over the course of the afternoon.

Malloy, a regular volunteer at the Mustard Seed, and a former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, currently works as a carpenter by day – and a “dessert-server by weekend.”  

His willingness to dice and dish seven enormous cakes was readily welcomed by organizers. Connor, meanwhile – evidently in charge of quality assurance – chewed on a corner piece to ensure it was safe for consumption.

In addition to those who provided dinner, 120 volunteers helped prepare the food on and off-site, set up the venue and serve the meal.

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At the height of the afternoon, with attendance swelling, there was a seating shortage. For Millington, it led to a moment she describes as the most memorable of the day:  “Her name was Linda and she had two young kids and one teenager with her. They cleaned up their sitting area, stood up and offered their seats graciously to the new attendees.

“It was very neat to see the kids as well as the mom so willing to give up their seats, as they were not quite done their meals yet, and looked as though they really could use those seats. I saw the smiles on their faces when the new family sat down and thanked them. It was a genuine moment between two families who were strangers.”

How could such a large scale banquet be provided free of charge? “Funding came from the budget set by the churches,” Power explained. “They shared the cost of the event, and we at Extreme raised a lot of the gifts and extras needed.”  

There were ample ‘extras.’ A line of boxes, overflowing with clothes, was made freely available to those who wished to obtain a warm sweater or a nifty pair of jeans. Food hampers were distributed to dozens of happy recipients after the meal. A prize draw was held for gift baskets which included tea, chocolates and bath products.

Last – and in the eyes of the little people, certainly not least – a mountain of new toys occupied one corner of the auditorium. Each was awarded to an excited child, following a much-anticipated balloon drop from the ceiling.

“My favorite moment,” says Power, “is the balloon drop. It’s great to see the kids so happy.”

In December, Extreme Outreach partnered with churches in Saanich to host a complimentary Christmas dinner for more than 400 people at North Douglas Pentecostal Church.

The vision of Extreme Outreach is for each community in greater Victoria to establish a minimum of three dinners per year, hosted by the local churches.

“Next year,” says Power, “I’ll be doing another dinner, God willing, in another area of the city.”  Although he plans to pass the reins to the Love-Your-City group of churches in Esquimalt for New Year’s Dinner 2009, he expects to remain involved in some capacity, and work alongside another crew of volunteers.

Millington cited Matthew 22:39 (“Love thy neighbour as thyself”) as her inspiration to participate again next year.

“We all need, we all hurt and we can all help. Volunteering is a great way to show [Christ’s] love through our actions.”

Contact Cliff Power at cliff@extremeoutreach.com.

March 2008