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Donated desserts complete 700 free dinners

After Mike and Pam Ginsberg reported they had all the main course foods provided but still needed donated desserts to complete their traditional free Christmas dinner at LulaBelle’s restaurant, they were overwhelmed with donated pies, cakes, cookies and candies.
As the last of the people sharing Christmas in the restaurant dining room at 111 Bird St. were preparing to depart, Pam said she wanted to “thank all the people who volunteered here” and also those who “made desserts for us.” Several of the diners were offered pies or cakes to take home.

A total of 700 dinners were prepared, Pam said, including more than 550 that were delivered and another 150 served in the dining room.
Including those who arrived very early in the morning to prepare the traditional ham Christmas dinner, Mike estimated that 60 volunteers helped during the day. They were also delivering, serving and working behind the scenes, first filling the plates to be delivered and later washing dishes.
The cooking crew included Mike and Pam Ginsberg, Pam’s mother, Fern Wesbecher, along with Sally Poole, Drex Rothweiler, Martha Adrian and Karen Martino. Adrian said that each year “I look forward to doing it.”

Among those delivering meals were Amanda Main and Noel Davis, who said after taking dinners to three families, they were going to feed the ducks at Huckleberry Park, which she does regularly.

Some people attend the dinner every Christmas, such as Charles and Sharon White. She called it “a great thing.”
After visiting with Mike Ginsberg, Charles explained the two have known each other for many years and at one time both worked at the Holiday Inn, (now the Hannibal Inn). “Mike was over the restaurant and I was the maintenance,” Charles said.
Family groups were volunteering to serve the diners, such as Nita Beilsmith and her daughter, Megan, 12. Megan had brought some toys from home. “I gave a little girl a doll, and she was so happy,” Megan said.

Another youth keeping busy was Noah Baker, 10, who paused to say he “had fun serving people.”
Some volunteer each year, including Tony Jones, who explained, “I just like helping people and seeing smiles on their faces.”
Among those smiling during their dinner were Viola Hilt and her daughter, Diane. Diane she “I loved it.” Her dessert was a cupcake, and Viola had such a big piece of cake, she was not sure she could finish it.

Other volunteers “came home” to join their family in volunteering, such as Kim Zottarella of O’Fallon, who was serving in the dining room with her parents, Larry and Jodie McKluskie. Larry was carrying a large tray of desserts from table to table, offering choices of pies and cakes.
Another family group of servers were Angela Seats and her four children. Her son, Trey, 7, was perhaps the youngest helper, as he tirelessly asked if he could refill drinks. Also helping were his sisters, Celeena, Zoe and Kora.
A teen volunteer, Jackson Wagner, 15, paused while serving a tray of candy to report, “I like being able to serve people, and you get to meet a lot of new people.’
One diner one was enjoying visiting with others was World War II veteran Aldo Torbeck, 91, of Palmyra. He came alone but said he spends part of every day with his wife, Arlene, who recently went to Maple Lawn Nursing Home in Palmyra. To stay healthy, Torbeck walks outside every day or exercises inside, “like Army calisthenics,”  He enjoys good health, and said “with God all things are possible.”

Another dining at LulaBelle’s was Joe McDannald, who is retired but explained he was a longtime contractor, building Walmarts in several places, including the first in Hannibal. As “one of Walmart’s main contractors,” McDannald explained, he knew Sam Walton personally.
“He drove a 1973 white Ford pickup,” he said, adding “it wasn’t unusual for him to pull up and be pushing shopping carts” into a store. Since retiring from the construction business, McDannald has been helping with the homeless for nearly 20 years.

Among the last to leave the building were the hard-working dish-washing crew, which had included Dave Scharnhorst, Lisa Murphy, Len Moss, Rob Ahrens and Stacy McElfresh. They did not want publicity, just said they enjoy helping out each year.

 

Recipes for Desserts with Bill & Sheila

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