More than 100 people shared their holiday meal together, along with an afternoon of socializing and bingo, North Pole style, at the Fourth Annual Christmas Day Dinner at the Becker Community Center. The event was again sponsored by the Becker Community Holiday Fund, and provided dinner and dessert to all attendees free of charge.
It is always a labor of love to gather the donations, schedule the volunteers and set up the tables in the BCC gymnasium each year, but organizer Wendy Borst and her hard-charging assistants Kim Hudson and Nellie Simpson and their team of volunteers put together a fine event that the community can be justly proud of.
Greeters included Lu Schuette, who has become a fixture at this event and Santa and Mrs. Claus along with a community leaders including Becker Mayor Jerome “Lefty” Kleis and his wife, Lisa, County Commissioner John Riebel and a host of familiar faces including Becky, Glen and Brandon Bodien. Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts from Becker Troop 92 were also on hand, bussing tables and helping out throughout the afternoon.
Door prizes, and later bingo cards, were handed out by Riebel and SWCD Dist. Mgr. Francine Larson. Even though tired from his overnight deliveries, Santa Claus also did the honors as the official Bingo caller for the event. Three handsome Christmas trees were donated by Jan’s Tree Farm in Clear Lake, adding an especially festive touch to the event.
Volunteers in the serving line throughout the afternoon, but included Judy Westin, Rick Torkkola, Keith Martens, Jennifer Miller, Nancy Blomgren, Dave Withrow and Corinne Lozinski, among others.
Organizers posted a large “Christmas Card” on the wall at the BCC to thank the donors, volunteers and businesses that helped make the 2015 event a success.
