Snowy Forecast Throws Bounty Of Bethlehem Dinner a Curve

As chairman of the Bounty of Bethlehem Christmas Day dinner, Randy Hair has been amazed at how well Saturday's community feast is coming together. Food, clothing and toy donations have rolled in; volunteers are lining up to help; and the food preparation is running practically ahead of schedule.

The only glitch is the one Mother Nature may cause with a weather forecast that calls for a White Christmas. Despite the forecast, the meal will go on one way or another, but Hair said there may have to be adjustments based upon how much snow falls. Flexibility is the key word.

 “Everything’s coming together really, really nicely this year, and everybody’s been able to make it to do their volunteer times. We’re so great on schedule that now this curve has us saying no, no, no, no,” Hair said. “The whole thing about the process is staying flexible and staying patient. One way or another it always happens. I hate to think we do all this preparation and not pull it off spectacularly, but sometimes we have to work for that. This year it looks like we’re going to have to work for it.”

On Thursday, an army of volunteers wasn’t letting a potential White Christmas stop them from getting the food ready. Dozens were going full steam ahead at Immaculata School peeling sweet potatoes and chopping up meats for the free community feast that is expected to feed 3,000 people. People can dine at Immaculata, take home a plate, or arrange to have a meal delivered right to their door.

The dining room at Immaculata is open from 1 to 5pm Christmas Day. Drivers plan to start delivering meals at 9am. The menu includes turkey, beef brisket, smoked ham, sweet potatoes, pole beans and baby carrot mix, rolls and desserts. Santa will also be on hand to distribute toys to children. Out in the lobby area are dozens of donated coats that will go to anyone in need of little winter warmth.

Hair said organizers have been looking at different scenarios in the event of a big snow, including delivering food a day early and having volunteers stay at Immaculata around the clock. Each of those, Hair said, presents their own unique problems. A refrigerated truck on site could keep the food until Sunday if a snowy Saturday makes it impossible to hold the feast as planned, Hair said.

As of Thursday afternoon, Bounty of Bethlehem will go ahead as scheduled. Hair said people should be able to learn of any last-minute changes to the Bounty of Bethlehem schedule through WLOS and WHKP. Hair said the priority is safety for everyone, including the many people who are planning to deliver meals across the county.

“We want to make sure everybody is safe,” he said. “We don’t want to put anybody in danger. We’re definitely not pushing that you have to be here. We’ll just work with what we get weather-wise. I hope roads can get cleared and people will be able to join us.”

Hair, who seems to be an easygoing individual who doesn't let problems get under his skin, says there’s actually a lesson to be learned through this weather wrinkle.

“In the bigger scheme of things, we’re not really in control of what happens. God takes over from us,” he said. “I’ve been in regattas in Charleston where you spend the whole day sitting on a dock because it’s too dangerous to get out, and so we sail another day. That’s what I guess we’ll do here and just see how it goes. One way or another it will happen. I have faith that it will happen.”

Anybody wishing to help, arrange a meal delivery or learn more about the Bounty can call 828-693-5115 or visit www.bountyofbethlehem.org .

 

 Email  Print  Feed