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.
In front of a big, decked-out Christmas tree, 59-year-old Rodney Harris posed for a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus and his pit bull mix puppy, Lovey. After that, he took his picture with Santa, a baggie full of turkey strips for his dog, and an extra boxed dinner.
Harris said he receives disability payments and lives at a shelter close to the Moda Center, but he is still looking for a place to call home.
“You feel like you’re not out there alone, at least for a little while,” he remarked.
Others expressed gratitude for the opportunity to unwind and feel secure during the vacation.
In the elevator of her apartment in Northwest Portland, Cheryl Harvey, 61, reported seeing a flyer promoting the Christmas feast. She is in her sixth year of attendance.
She remarked, “I love the company and the food.”
After learning about it via the Portland Rescue Mission, 40-year-old Nikki Todd said this was her second year there. She claimed she doesn’t know what she would have done without the free dinner, moves around a lot, and lives outside in a tent.
According to her, a hot dinner goes a long way.
Amelia Tompkins, 31, a volunteer, searched for dishes to clear while wearing an apron. Just four days after moving to Portland from England, Tompkins said she looked online for a holiday event she could help with. She remarked, “I’ve met so many lovely people.”
Five-year homeless Rosina Strebig, 51, paused her meal to speak with the organizer before returning to the open air.
Thank you. Utzinger was notified by Strebig. We make an effort to attend each year, and I am grateful.
Visitors were given a bag of pet food and a loaf of bread as they left. After that, they were led to a tent erected on the Southwest Park blocks where they could choose a present that included a pair of socks or a warm cap.
More than 190 hats made by Portlander Teresa Kedor were donated for the occasion. On Wednesday afternoon, she assisted in distributing them.
It’s a pastime of mine. “I enjoy doing it,” she remarked.
On Christmas Day of their second year at the Portland Art Museum, Estacada couple David Alley, 73, and Beverly Alley, 72, posed as Santa and Mrs. Claus in the ballroom.
During a short pause, David Alley remarked, “It’s a great event.” There is clearly a great need.
— Maxine Bernstein writes about criminal justice and federal courts. You may contact her at [email protected], 503-221-8212, or follow her on LinkedIn or X@maxoregonian.
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