Churches open their doors to the community on Christmas

For the past three years, Christmas dinner hasn't been a worry for Aisha Shimilimana's family.

“My mom just came here because Pastor Gary just told us yesterday they would have a meal here,” said Aisha, 11. “So we just came.”

“It's very good,” said Aisha's mom, Joseline Faida.

Faida, Aisha, and sisters Amelia, 6, and Irakoze, 4, settled in northwest Cedar Rapids three years ago after immigrating from Burundi. Every Christmas so far they've spent at St. Mark's United Methodist Church, 4700 Johnson Ave. NW, just across the street from their apartment complex.

“Every church is part of a community.” said the Rev. Gary Hoyt, St. Mark's pastor. “That's what we're trying to do here.”

It's the 24th year Cedar Rapids Methodists have taken in anyone needing a meal and some company on Christmas Day, said Gene Sever, a St. Mark's member and an original organizer of the effort.

“We feed everybody,” said Sever, 83.

Across town, St. Paul's United Methodist does the same at 1340 Third Ave. SE.

“They take the northeast and southeast side, Marion, Hiawatha,” said Sever, “We take northwest, southwest, and Fairfax.”

The tradition began in 1984, growing from a Christmas Day meal served at the old Roosevelt Hotel. A St. Mark's member who helped organize that effort suggested to Sever their church provide a satellite location. Sever agreed to take on the job, under one condition.

“If it goes under a committee, we're out of it,” he said. “Everybody on the committee has a different idea of what's going on.”

So it can look disorganized when volunteers arrive at 8 a.m. to start cooking 140 pounds of turkey roll. But things sort themselves out.

“We're short of silverware this year, so some of our volunteers will be spending the day washing,” said organizer Rick Sampson, 65.

Sever wasn't sure how many diners his crew of 42 served - “the worse the weather is, the better (the attendance).”

About 200 people were served at St. Pauls, according to organizer Jim Milden. Another 60 meals were delivered or carried out; Sever estimated about 80 deliveries were made from St, Mark's.

The meals are funded through donations from church members and grocery suppliers. At St. Mark's, the holiday leftovers will be served at the church's regular Wednesday evening service and community gathering.

Both events are important for the surrounding area of modest homes and apartment complexes, according to Rose McGowan.

“To get to know your neighbors, and the people around you,” said McGowan, 55. “It always helps bring people together.”

McGowan started attending St. Mark's shortly after moving from Chicago two years ago to help raise three grandchildren. This year, she took over as head cook for the Christmas dinner and the Wednesday meals.

“I just love to cook,” said McGowan, who supervised the cooks at three McDonald's restaurants for 20 years. “This church is beautiful to me. I don't know where I and my family would be without this church.”

“Whether you need food, companionship, or both, here you'll get it all,” said Sampson.