Elks Family Christmas Dinner enjoys record attendance

For the third consecutive year, Presque Isle Elks Lodge No. 1954 hosted a Christmas Day dinner for anyone who would otherwise be spending Christmas Day alone. According to Elks’ Exalted Ruler Linda Allen, a record number of guests, over 150, attended this year’s event. In addition to the dinner guests, over 50 Elks Lodge members and other volunteers participated in the event by cooking, serving, greeting, entertaining and transporting for the record number of guests.
As with both previous Elks Family Christmas Dinners, guests without transportation were driven in stretch limousines to and from the Elks Lodge. Two stretch limousines were again provided by Luxury Limousine of Caribou and were chauffeured by David McIntryre and his son Nicholas.
Two young, musical talents participated in their first Elks Family Christmas Dinner. Accompanied by their fathers, they provided dinner guests with some spectacular traditional Christmas music. Dori Smith, a Colby College student, showcased her amazing vocal talent singing “Ava Maria” á cappella. She also sang a duet with her father, Charles Smith of Presque Isle. John Rayburn, a University of Maine student, played a variety of musical instruments while entertaining the dinner guests, including an instrumental duet with his father, Jack, playing a French horn.
These new, young musical talents joined with Peter Parker, James “Sheldon” Wright, Leland Clark, Ken Pelkey and Doug Drew in providing traditional Christmas musical entertainment throughout the event.
According to Elks Family Christmas Dinner co-chairs, Dana and Mary Dickinson, the ever-increasing number of Elks Christmas dinner guests consumed a record amount of food. Again this year, Dennis Mountain of The Northeastland Hotel prepared 10 gallons of the hotel’s famous tomato bisque soup to begin the Christmas dinner. Dana Dickinson and his Elks cooking crew prepared 220 pounds of turkey, 50 pounds of ham, five gallons of gravy, 55 pounds of Naturally Potatoes mashed potatoes, and vegetables from McCain Foods as the main course, accompanied by dinner rolls from Governors. Elks’ members and others donated assorted appetizers and homemade breads. For dessert, a wide variety of pies, totaling 40, from Governors and McCain Foods were served.
Rev. David Williams of the Grant Memorial Methodist Church and his wife Colleen, new to the community, joined with the other Christmas dinner guests in the fellowship of the event for the first time. Rev. Williams offered an invocation which eloquently drew the attention of the guests to the true reason we celebrate Christmas.
In an emotion-packed brief ceremony, Exalted Ruler Allen set out a Christmas feast for all departed and absent Elks. According to Allen, “Within the Elks Lodge, a fellow Elk is never forgotten.” Allen is the daughter of James Morrison, one of the early members of Presque Isle Elks Lodge No. 1954. Again, this year, Santa Claus paid a visit to the Elks Family Christmas Dinner. Every guest received a small basket hand-woven by Mic Mac elders. The baskets, suitable for Christmas tree ornaments, served as a memento for the event and were filled with treats.
In commenting upon the Christmas Day celebration, Exalted Ruler Allen said, “The Elks Family Christmas Dinner exemplifies the motto ‘Elks Care, Elks Share’. The response of this community to this event, however, demonstrates that the Christmas spirit of caring and sharing within this city is profound and contagious.
“The increasing and continuing generosity of individuals and businesses which make this worthwhile event possible is truly overwhelming. For all of the individual sacrifices of time and generous donations of food and money, the Presque Isle Lodge of Elks if so very grateful,” she added.