Laramie Elks Lodge welcomes all for Christmas Day dinner

The meal is free and open to all, said Debbie Cheesbrough, a member of the Elks Christmas planning committee and one of the Elks’ and community volunteers who work on this event. The lodge also could use some more volunteers to help on Christmas Day, and call 307-742-2024 if interested or for more information.

Holiday decorations throughout the lodge and music of the season will complete the experience.

Although the food is delicious, much of the value is spending time together as a community, Cheesbrough said. Anyone interested in sharing the meal is invited to stop in without a reservation.

“One time when I was able to volunteer on Christmas Day, it was just the coming together of the community, strangers getting together to share a holiday meal. It was heartwarming to see that,” Cheesbrough said.

Volunteers also will deliver meals throughout the community. Reservations for delivered meals can be made by calling the lodge from 3-7 p.m. daily.

Requests for delivered meals can also be made on Monday.

Deliveries are throughout Laramie, and callers don’t have to be Laramie residents to participate. One year, a snowstorm left travelers in stranded in hotels on Christmas Day.

“We heard of people in hotels during a big snowstorm. Some called and we wanted to get the word out, ‘Call the Elks, we would be happy to deliver a meal to you,’” Cheesbrough said. “People we heard from after is that it was just a great hometown gesture to include them.”

Requests for both the in-person meals and delivered meals have grown steadily. That number is expected to grow again this year.

“Last year 580, this year we’re anticipating well into the 600s. I’m kind of wondering, with the economy the way it is, inflation, maybe [it will be more] people who will not be in a position to fix their own dinner this year,” Cheesbrough said.

Guests include individuals, couples suddenly without family around them, or families with small children.

“We just try to create an open environment and make everyone feel welcome,” Cheesbrough said.

In addition to the support of the Elks Lodge, the meal is supported by local restaurants, businesses and individuals.

In November of each year, the lodge sends 150 letters to local merchants asking for support. They respond with food or cash donations.

“Our merchants are just phenomenal,” she said.

The University of Wyoming Washakie Dining Center will cook the 37 turkeys that are frozen and waiting, as the Elks lodge doesn’t have a commercial kitchen large enough for such a flock. Lodge volunteers debone the turkeys for the Christmas meal.

This is the second year that the meal has received a donation from the Wyoming Governors Residence Foundation and Wyoming Hunger Initiative.

“We’re always interested in helping to alleviate food insecurity. First lady Jennie Gordon reached out to us unsolicited and gave us a generous donation last year and this year. She’s the one who drove that,” Cheesbrough said.

The meal is one of the lodge’s community outreach projects targeting food insecurity, veterans services and children’s’ programs.

There is no expectation of payment for the in-person or delivered meals. A donation jar is at the exit, but with “no expectation whatsoever,” Cheesbrough stressed.

If merchant or individual donations exceed the cost of the meal, the money is returned to the community through the United Way of Albany County.

“Our goal is not to make money,” she said, “but to fill a need in the community.”

Though there is rarely much food left at the end of the day, leftovers are taken to places where people are working on Christmas Day, such as the Albany County Sheriff’s Office or Cathedral Home.