Elks  serve  up  friendship,  dinner  

By  Jenny  Whitford  

No one should have to be alone on Christmas. This statement is the foundation of the Watertown Elks Lodge's Free Christmas Dinner Program, according to Elks member Alvin Schloesser, who has been heading up volunteer activities for the meal since it began 27 years ago. "I spent one Christmas alone, while I was in the service," Schloesser explains, "I was away from home and I was alone. No one should have to experience that. Christmas is a pretty lonely day if you have no one to spend it with." The Elks Lodge Christmas Dinner program, which is aimed at reaching the elderly, needy and lonely, impacts Watertown and its adjacent communities with nearly 400 complete Christmas meals each year. Glenn Friedl, an Elks member since before the program began, said that prior to this program the Elks would deliver about 50 food baskets to the needy on Christmas. Eventually interest in the baskets decreased to where only 10 or 15 families wanted one. When the interest dwindled, Elks members re-evaluated the needs of the Watertown community. "We found that many people no longer wanted baskets because they were unable to cook the food or unable to consume the portions it provided," said Schloesser. It was then that the Elks decided food baskets were not effective in bringing holiday cheer to the elderly and needy in Watertown. Those people needed more than food, they needed friendship. This realization sparked the beginning of the Christmas Dinner Program, which has since served over 9,500 meals to the needy in the Watertown area. While the program was begun solely by the Elks Lodge, it has grown to include volunteers from all aspects of the community. Approximately 50-60 volunteers run the program each year, with 16 delivering meals, eight working in the kitchen and 24 serving at the lodge. "Everyone has different motivations for participating with the meal," said Joel Rosenow, who directs public relations for the program. "My wife and I volunteer because we have nothing else to do on Christmas morning; our kids are grown up and it's a good cause. We like to give back. It's a good feeling to help people. It's gratifying really, especially with the elderly who have no other place to be." Friedl added that some families volunteer in order to teach their children the true meaning of Christmas. Although he no longer coordinates the program, he speaks fondly of his time volunteering, "I looked forward to the meal each year because I love seeing the people who are alone have somewhere to go. To see the displaced seniors -- those with adult children who have their own extended families -- have someplace to be when their families forget about them." In order to find people who will benefit from the meal, each year the Elks Lodge announces the program through local apartment complexes and senior living centers. Rosenow says the majority of the meals get delivered to senior residences. However, anyone who wishes to partake may do so. The program is not limited to financial need and does not have any age stipulations. In the future, the program aims to expand to include more people eating meals at the lodge. Schloesser explained while he thinks it's great to deliver meals, what he really wants to see is people come to the lodge so they can be reached not just with food, but also with friendship. "I want people to feel comfortable accepting the meal. There's nothing to be ashamed of. Not all the people who come are poor; some just want a place to be on Christmas." Those who are at the lodge may have many differences, but they all have one thing in common; they are all there to visit with friends. Not only has the program impacted the Watertown community, but it also has influenced the lives of those outside the local area. "One time a family visited relatives or friends in Watertown and something happened with the host so that the family had nowhere to go on Christmas. Someone said to them, 'Go to the Elk's Lodge.' The Christmas Dinner Program really saved that family's Christmas. It's great to see the program reach so far" said Schloesser. This year, the menu for the meal includes cranberries, rolls, butter, milk, pumpkin pie and whipped cream, turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables, dressing and gravy. Volunteers at the lodge will prepare many of the side dishes, while Piggly Wiggly donated and will cook the turkeys. The milk for the meal is being provided by Kraemer's Dairy. Chickens Unlimited has donated pies, which will be baked by Breselow's Market.

According Dan McKee, who is the 2013 co-chairman for the program, the Elks Lodge Christmas Dinner Program is one of the two major projects of the lodge, with the other being medical equipment loans. Funding for the meal comes through members of the lodge, as well as community donations. "When the program began, we served less than 20 meals, all at the lodge. We had one turkey and there were leftovers. Now we expect 400 meals this year," said Friedl. Approximately 80 of the meals are served at the lodge, with more than 300 being delivered. Marquardt Village alone accounts for over 125 of the annual deliveries.