When many people think of Christmas they think of Santa Claus and decorations but the members of St. Peter's catholic church are focusing on what they say is the real reason for the season...love.
The congregation extended that love through their annual Christmas Day community dinner.
A tradition that has taken place for the past thirty three years...welcomes over a thousand members of the community. "There's a passage from the bible that says it's better to give rather than receive" says Robert Keeder, a 33 year volunteer coordinator for the Saint Peter's Catholic Church.
Keeder says, "They know we're going to give, so they know there will be a place to receive. We're feeding about a thousand people who otherwise would not be fed."
For the past three decades Marion Edmond has been on the receiving end of what he calls a blessing. He and his son attended the church's annual Easter dinner this past April and he's continuing the tradition. Edmond says, "I've been coming here for 32 years, since I was a little a boy. Since mama did that for me... I'm doing that for my kid."
Edmond's son, Jamarion Edmond feels grateful to be with his family and wants to share a message of hope for anyone whose feeling down during this time of the year. The younger Edmond says, "Be thankful and grateful that you have your own family and have your own life. That's the only thing you need -- family, that's the real present."
