Guard readies for community dinner
Annual Christmas at Our House event planned Saturday
By CANDACE CHASE/Daily Inter Lake
Lt. Col. Mark Boettcher hopes to attract more than 2,000 hungry people to gobble up turkey and ham with all the trimmings - for free - on Saturday, Dec. 13.
This year's Christmas at Our House dinner is from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Kalispell Armed Forces Reserve Center at 2989 U.S. 93 North.
"It's our 19th annual dinner," Boettcher said.
Hosted by the 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion of the Montana Army National Guard, Christmas at Our House has become an annual tradition aimed at giving something back to the community for its support.
"This is the only one left in the state," Boettcher said. "We're able to put this on through the generous donations of businesses and the community."
As an example, he said that a local rental company donated a lift to allow the decorating of a 28-foot Christmas tree for the festivities. He has received an extra-large donation of 65 turkeys this year.
"We served 1,200 people last year," he said. "I'm hoping to break 2,000 this year."
The Guard's celebration mobilizes an army of 100 volunteers to cook and serve the meal. According to Boettcher, the cooks, servers and others include some Guard members but most are civilians who come back year after year to help out.
"I have a gentleman who runs a chiropractic clinic, Delaney Carlson - he's my head cook," Boettcher said.
About 10 other people help Carlson in the kitchen with preparation that begins on Friday. Cooking continues throughout the day on Saturday.
Along with ham and turkey, the dinner includes potatoes, sweet potatoes and the rest of the usual trimmings along with an annual favorite salad - cucumber and onions in vinegar - prepared by a local resident.
"That gentleman comes every year," Boettcher said.
To feed more than a thousand people, he secured 1,400 pounds of potatoes.
"That's a lot of potatoes to peel," he said with a laugh.
Boettcher said he got involved with the annual dinner four years ago. During his watch, he said the dinner has drawn people from all walks of life.
"We have had people come from Iron Horse and some who hitchhiked to get here," Boettcher said. "It's for whoever walks through the door."
With the addition of bus service this year, no one needs to risk riding with a stranger to arrive at the reserve center. Eagle Transit and Special Friends Advocacy Program joined together to offer free bus rides to Christmas at Our House.
Pickup points include local senior apartments, Ninth Avenue West and Center Street, Big Sky Manor, Special Friends, Glacier Manor, the Salvation Army, First Avenue East and Ninth Street, the Flathead County Library, Fernwell Apartments, Smith's, Flathead Valley Community College, and the junction of Hawthorne Avenue and Liberty Street.
Boettcher said the Guard has invited Kalispell Mayor Pam Kennedy as well as the other political leaders to attend.
He said Boy Scouts and Civil Air Patrol members plan to participate.
He has confirmations of guests from the Montana Army National Guard headquarters in Helena as well as local Guard members.
The commander also has it on good authority that Santa Claus plans to fly in and attend between 1 and 3 p.m. with candy and gifts for children at the dinner. Boettcher said that puts a smile on most of their faces.
"This is a good kick-off to the Christmas season," he said. "We'll have Christmas music all day."
Guests may arrive anytime between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the reserve center, which has a large commercial kitchen. Diners go through the line, then enjoy their meal.
"We don't take any names, we just keep track of numbers," Boettcher said. "It's fun to know how many people we served."
He sees no danger of this community Christmas dinner disappearing with the level of volunteer support and donations. Boettcher said he has the date for next year's dinner reserved.
"Everyone seems to have a good time," he said. "It's friends and neighbors getting together to eat and say, 'Hi.'"
Call 758-3102 or 758-3105.
Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.