ONEONTA _ "It is a very generous community," said Carol Forman of Laurens, one of the coordinators for Friday's Friends of Christmas dinner in Oneonta.
She spoke during the dinner, which took place from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church.
The holiday dinner, including turkey and ham with all the fixings, is made possible by generous donations of food, money and the incidentals needed to serve about 400 people this year, she said.
More than 100 volunteers came for a variety of reasons to help make the event a success, she said.
"The dinner is a wonderful attribute of this community," volunteer Charles King said.
He retired to Oneonta about five years ago following a career with a Connecticut utility, he said.
"I have had a really good life," he said. "It is time to give back."
Back this year was Fred Schwarzhans of Morris, providing Christmas carols with his six children. This is the third year he has attended with at least one of his children, he said.
"It's such a great opportunity to come and have fellowship," he said. "I do it because I can, and my family has a talent for singing."
His 12-year-old son, Freddie, said, "I think it makes people feel better. It makes me feel good."
Daughter Abby, 14, said, "I like that we can share our talents with others."
Two of the cooks on Thursday were Jo Terwilliger of Oneonta, who has been coming for 16 years, and Phyllis Gunther, also of Oneonta, who was volunteering for her second year at the dinner.
"We are doing a public service, and we have a lot of fun," Gunther said.
Everyone should have a holiday meal, Terwilliger said. She had hers last Saturday, "so now it's time to give back," she said.
The attendance was down from last year, when about 500 meals were served, said Mary Ann Hartmann of West Oneonta, one of the event's organizers.
She said she did not know why the numbers were down, but any leftovers will be given to Saturday's Bread, a hot-meal program at the church.
Mary Southern of Otego also helped organize the day's events.
Among those enjoying the dinner was Dave Ray of Oneonta, who was there with his mother, Anne. Both volunteered earlier in the day to deliver dinners to those who couldn't attend.
"It's really nice to do when you don't have a lot of family visiting," he said.
"It is very rewarding," Anne Ray said. "They are very appreciative. We like to help."
One of those who appreciated the community effort was John Amatuccio of Oneonta.
This was his first time attending the dinner, but he is a regular at Saturday's Bread, a free program that serves hot-meals at the Methodist Church.
"I love it," he said.
Without it, he said, he wasn't sure where he would find a meal on Christmas.
Another of those who helped deliver the meals was Arielle Stevens of Oneonta. This is her first year helping, but she said she plans on coming back. She delivered five meals with a friend to residents of Nader Towers in Oneonta before coming back to help at the church.
"It was awesome," she said. "They were so appreciative and happy."
When the two came to the door, residents said, "Merry Christmas" and "God bless," she said. "It made us feel warm and happy."
___
If you have good news you'd like to share, call Associate Managing Editor Emily Popek at 432-1000 or (800) 721-1000, ext. 217; fax her at 432-5707; e-mail her at epopek@thedailystar.com; or write to her at P.O. Box 250, Oneonta, NY 13820.
