Christmas dinners given to 1,300 families at Tabitha’s Way events
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- Highland Mayor Kurt Ostler, front, Pleasant Grove Mayor Guy Fugal and Alpine Mayor Carla Merrill pose after putting a Christmas dinner into a van, as cars line up to receive food to make Christmas dinners, at Tabitha’s Way in American Fork on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023.
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- American Fork police officers put a full Christmas dinner into a car trunk at a giveaway event held by Tabitha’s Way in American Fork on Monday night, Dec. 18, 2023.
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- Brigham Young University football players JoJo Phillips and Chase Roberts pose for a picture with a 5 Star Legacy Foundation volunteer during the Christmas dinner giveaway at Tabitha’s Way in American Fork on Monday night, Dec. 18, 2023. Over 1,300 families received dinners to cook at home through annual Christmas dinner giveaways in American Fork and Spanish Fork.
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- Six Utah County mayors pose with Santa just before providing hundreds of Christmas dinners to families in need at Tabitha’s Way Local Food Pantry in American Fork on Monday, Dec. 18, 2023. From left, mayors Brad Frost of American Fork, Denise Andersen of Cedar Hills, Carla Merrill of Alpine, Kurt Ostler of Highland, Jim Miller of Saratoga Springs and Guy Fugal of Pleasant Grove.
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- Volunteers load Christmas dinners into cars at Tabitha’s Way in American Fork on Monday night, Dec. 18, 2023. Over 1,300 families received dinners to cook at home through annual Christmas dinner giveaways in American Fork and Spanish Fork.
More than 1,300 families in Utah County, who would not have been able to pay for a special Christmas dinner, will now have one.
Thanks to donations, volunteers and Tabitha’s Way food pantries in American Fork and Spanish Fork, the fixings for full Christmas dinners were given to families in need. On Saturday, Tabitha’s Way South County gave out their dinners to about 800 recipients. On Monday, Tabitha’s Way North County gave out over 500 more.
According to Tabitha’s Way North County founder Mike Carter, each family received food that they can prepare and cook at home and be able to spend the day at home with loved ones, rather than having to go somewhere in order to eat a free Christmas dinner. Dinners given out included a family-size ham, potatoes, corn, green beans, rolls, bag of oranges, gravy, stuffing, rice, beans and cookie dough. Each child also received a small gift.
“Santa Claus made a special visit and helped give out the dinners and spread holiday cheer, as only Santa can do,” Carter said.
Money was donated by many businesses and individuals to pay for the food. The cost to provide over 1,300 Christmas dinners is very significant, according to Carter. “The response from the community was really amazing,” he said. “In addition to the dinners, we also had hundreds of coats and hundreds of stuffed animals and small gifts donated by several organizations and individuals.”
Brigham Young University student athletes, members of the American Fork Police Department and some area elected officials helped to pass out the dinners in American Fork on Monday.
“This is an opportunity for the elected officials in north Utah County to personally serve the underserved in our community,” Carter said.
Utah County Sheriff Mike Smith has helped to give out the dinners at Tabitha’s Way for the past several years. “They do such amazing work for our community,” he said. “Being able to participate in even a small way is such a blessing.”
Tabitha’s Way provided Alpine School District with vouchers to give to families of students that otherwise would not have been able to have a Christmas dinner. Families were discretely selected by teachers and administrators from the school district, according to Carter.
“Many families this year are experiencing difficulty having the money to pay for a Christmas dinner. Since the cost of food has skyrocketed, Christmas dinners are a luxury that many families just cannot afford anymore,” Carter said. “For some, it comes down to having a Christmas dinner or paying their rent, medical or other bills.”
“Many times, tonight we saw mothers and fathers in tears as they realized they would now have a Christmas dinner, and as they were given a small toy or stuffed animal. It was humbling to see so many moved to tears when they were given something that most of us will take for granted and not even think twice about this Christmas season,” Carter said Monday night. “One woman, through tears, said, ‘I got this flyer from the Alpine School District that said I could come here tonight and get a free Christmas dinner. I really did not believe it, but I came anyway because I did not have a Christmas meal for my family. I don’t know how this is possible, but I am so happy.'”
