Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
The COVID pandemic may have changed the way Christmas dinners are shared with the community but it hasn鈥檛 stopped it.
Lynn Wannop and her husband Andrew, Coco鈥檚 Cafe staff, the municipality and community members have stepped up to the plate.
In years past, Christmas dinners have been hosted by donation at the Legion for those who can鈥檛 afford it or who have no family members in town. The tasty food was enjoyed in an atmosphere of camaraderie and sense of community.
Those dinners have been cancelled due to public health restrictions this year, and Wannop thought they would be "so missed".
So did others.聽
Wannop鈥檚 friend, Angie Wilson contacted her.
鈥淚 texted her and said, 鈥榃hat can we do?鈥欌�� Wilson said. 鈥淚n the past, I鈥檝e helped her with Christmas baking, but we can鈥檛 do that this year because of COVID.鈥�
鈥淲e started brainstorming,鈥� Wannop said.
She said they pondered, 鈥溾�榃ho鈥檚 going to put on a Christmas dinner?鈥� I have the restaurant (Coco鈥檚 Cafe)鈥︹��
With the connections made after Wannop and Wilson got together, Christmas dinners will be available for Jasperites this year.
Wilson gave the credit to Wannop.
鈥淟ynn is an inspiration as a mom, a community leader and a businesswoman, in trying times,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nd Community Outreach Services (COS) has done a lot, helping make this happen.鈥�
Wannop said she, her husband, and their staff will work the week leading up to Christmas, planning to cook about 100 traditional Christmas meals.
鈥淓verything is going to be gluten-free, except for the bread,鈥� Wannop said. 鈥淭urkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes and roasted sweet potatoes - and local, organic vegetables - green beans, beets.鈥�
The veggies will come from local sources she said, and emphasized it鈥檚 important to support local businesses. Homemade cranberry sauce will be included too.
Wannop said she and her team are reaching out to the business community to get donations of large take-out food containers.
As well as preparing the dinners, the Coco鈥檚 crew will deliver them.
Wannop said the initiative 鈥渃omes from wanting to be with family in our little home鈥�.
鈥淚 do it because I want everybody to have what we have,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e are so privileged. To help this happen for the community is so important.
鈥淚t鈥檚 how I was raised. Mom and Dad both say, 鈥楾his world turns because of volunteers.鈥� I just want to help, be a part of the solution.鈥�
Lisa Riddell, community development manager for Community Family Services (CFS), said, 鈥淟ynn and Andrew have a long track record of helping the community and supporting Jasperites.
鈥淲hen Lynn reached out, the decision to help was easy. What an amazing offer from Coco鈥檚. We were truly thrilled to hear from Lynn about this.鈥�
Riddell said the Christmas dinner project was all Wannop鈥檚 idea. She and her team at CFS will be coordinating delivery lists for the Coco鈥檚 volunteers and looking at ways they can cover the cost of the food.
To donate, send an e-transfer to the Jasper Community Team Society at [email protected].
To register for a Christmas meal, contact COS confidentially by calling 780-852-2100 before 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 18.
