PRAIRIE GROVE -- American Legion Post 146 is hosting an annual Christmas dinner for Prairie Grove residents.
Bill Shaffer, American Legion member, said the meal is free and the public is invited.
"We'll have ham, turkey and all the trimmings," Shaffer said. "Legion members buy and prepare the dishes. It's like a huge potluck."
Shaffer wasn't sure when the American Legion started preparing its annual Christmas dinner for the public.
"I've been in the Legion over 20 years and we've been doing it since I've been here," Shaffer said.
Five years ago American Legion members met with the Farmington, Lincoln and Prairie Grove senior centers to offer meals to their people who are with the Meals On Wheels program. The centers accepted and it has become part of the annual event.
"We prepare 150 meals for them," Shaffer said. "We wanted to help those people get Christmas meals too."
Shaffer said the Legion post already has received orders for 150 carry-outs and he anticipates having 75-100 people coming to dinner at the American Legion Building on Neal Street for the meal, which will begin at 6 p.m. Saturday.
"We do this because it is our gift to the community for their support of us," Shaffer said. "We have a lot of fun doing this."
Shaffer said personnel from the senior centers will come in at 5 p.m. to load up the meals for delivery.
"Santa helps deliver their meals," Shaffer said, explaining a husband of one of the senior center directors wears a Santa suit.
Shaffer said the formal name for the Prairie Grove post is the Edward Mason and Edward Nations American Legion Post 146.
"Edward Mason fought in World War I and was killed in France," Shaffer said. "Edward Nations was killed at Pearl Harbor. They are both buried at the National Cemetery in Fayetteville."
"We just want to do a good thing," he added about the free meal provided by post members.
Prairie Grove's post has 102 members with a dozen active members, said Shaffer. The post has occupied the building on Neal Street where the dinner will be held since 1934.
Community on 12/10/2014