On Wednesday, the crowd huddled around the rear of the Portland Art Museum, hoping to escape the rain and have a hot supper on Christmas Day.
At least 800 people were fed buffet-style in the museum’s ballroom in downtown Portland two hours into Potluck in the Park’s 30th free Christmas Day supper, as others queued to enter.
Chris Giordani, 47, sat down with a plate full of turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, and string beans and said, “It’s beautiful.” His cheeks were still red from the cold. As a pianist played Frosty the Snowman, he claimed to have felt a little more festive because so many members of the community were in one location.
According to Giordani, he usually sleeps during the day wherever I go, including on public transit, and, for his own protection, walks around in public areas at night.
In 1994, organizer David Utzinger created the first free Potluck in the Park Christmas feast, which grew out of the weekly outdoor Sunday lunches. He claimed that because Christmas happened on a Sunday that year, he searched for a place to serve a hot supper indoors.
He looked about for a venue and hosted the first one at the gym of the downtown YWCA. According to Utzinger, it stayed there for 20 years, relocated to the Portland Art Museum in 2014, and then spent two years at the Crystal Ballroom. In 2020, there was a pause because of the COVID-19 epidemic. The meal was served outside on the park blocks in 2021.
“We are thrilled to be able to continue making many Portlanders who don’t always see much joy happy every Christmas,” he said. We want our guests to feel like they are unique.
After checking their baggage in the museum’s ballroom entrance, guests lined up at one of two buffet lines before locating a seat at one of 15 long tables covered in white tablecloths.
More than 100 volunteers were organized by Bob and Carolyn Heymann of the Hands on Greater Portland volunteer group. Their duties ranged from welcoming guests, preparing or serving meals, inspecting bags, distributing gifts of crocheted winter hats and socks, or arranging transportation for donated people to and from the location.
For fifteen years, they have advocated for the Christmas meal. Their four grown children joined them on Wednesday.
Rodney Harris, 59, posed for a photo with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as did his dog Lovey, a pit bull mix, in front of a large, decorated Christmas tree. He then left with an extra packaged meal, a baggie full of turkey strips for his dog and his photo with Santa.
Harris said he stays at a shelter near the Moda Center and receives disability benefits but is looking for housing.
At least for a little while, he said, you feel like you re not out there by yourself.
Others said they were appreciative for a moment to relax and feel safe on the holiday.
Cheryl Harvey, 61, said she saw a flier about the Christmas meal in the elevator of her Northwest Portland apartment. It s the sixth year she s attended.
I love the food and the company, she said.
Nikki Todd, 40, said this was her second year attending, having learned about it from the Portland Rescue Mission. She said she lives outside in a tent, moves all over, and doesn t know what she would have done without the free meal.
A hot meal goes a long way, she said.
Volunteer Amelia Tompkins, 31, wore an apron and looked for plates to clear. Tompkins said she moved from England to Portland just four days earlier and searched on the internet for an event she could lend a hand at for the holiday. I ve met so many lovely people, she said.
After eating, Rosina Strebig, 51, who has been homeless for five years, stopped to talk with the organizer before heading back outdoors.
Thank you, Strebig told Utzinger. Every year, we try to come, and I appreciate it.
On their way out, visitors were offered a loaf of bread and a bag of pet food. They then were directed to a tent set up on the Southwest Park blocks to select a gift that included a warm hat or pair of socks.
Teresa Kedor, of Portland, crocheted more than 190 hats that she donated for the event. She helped hand them out Wednesday afternoon.
It s my hobby. I love doing it, she said.
Estacada couple David Alley, 73, and Beverly Alley, 72, posed as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the ballroom, their second year at the Portland Art Museum on Christmas Day.
It s a great event, David Alley said, during a brief break. Obviously, there s a big need.
— Maxine Bernstein covers federal court and criminal justice. Reach her at 503-221-8212,[email protected], follow her on X@maxoregonian, or onLinkedIn.
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