Submitted by Susan Mooney
When I looked across the room at the Carman community Christmas dinner last month, I was reminded why this once-a-year special occasion has remained relevant and well attended.
Volunteers and guests share the warmth of the 2025 Carman/Dufferin Community Christmas Day Dinner on Dec. 25, an annual event that has brought people together in Carman since 2011
Since 2011, the invitation has been consistent: it is for anyone who might spend Dec. 25 on their own, for whatever reason. One hundred and eighty-nine people were welcomed to the dinner in 2025.
Held at the Carman Community Hall, the event remains accessible through free transportation provided by Carman Handi-Van and affordable for all at just $5 for a meal ticket. All costs are covered entirely through ticket sales and generous community donations.
The meal is orchestrated entirely by volunteers. A dedicated organizing committee of five to seven volunteers plans and co-ordinates the dinner each year, with roles including chef, volunteer co-ordinator, marketing, secretary-treasurer and photographer. Committee members typically serve three to four years, with continual recruitment ensuring long-term sustainability. The committee meets four to five times annually from October through January.
There is never a shortage of kindness and generosity from people willing to assist — and this year was no exception.
Upon entering the hall, guests were welcomed by familiar carols and invited to sit at round tables with centrepieces of red poinsettias donated by Vanderveen Greenhouses. Each place setting featured hand-crafted placemats created by children from Carman Elementary School, Dufferin Christian School, and the Wee Care Before & After program.
The reputation of the traditional meal is always enticing. For several years, volunteer chef Ross Bursey has put his heart and expertise into cooking the dinner while ensuring kitchen volunteers feel welcome and appreciated.
Donations were once again generous, including potatoes from Kehler Farms, homemade buns from Silver Winds Hutterite Colony, and desserts from community volunteers. Everything was co-ordinated by Carman resident Irene Stevenson, with 54 volunteers — including 13 high school students — pitching in over three days.
The Carman Community Hall kitchen plays a critical role in making the event possible. Built in 1979, much of its equipment was original. Over the years, the organizing committee successfully applied three times to the Carman Foundation to refurbish key items, with continued support important for future dinners.
Why does the event remain so popular among volunteers? Many cited simple reasons: it feels good to help, tasks are manageable, it is well organized, and it offers a chance to connect. Students appreciated earning volunteer hours, while newcomers said it was a meaningful way to meet people.
In 2023, the World Health Organization declared loneliness a global health threat, saying it is as bad for you as “smoking 15 cigarettes a day.” Being “alone” is having no one else present. Being “lonely” is feeling sadness because one has no company. No one is immune to feeling alone or lonely at times.
On Christmas Day in Carman, no one needs to be alone or feel lonely. The Carman/Dufferin Community Christmas Day Dinner continues to be a way to ease those feelings and to bring people together.
Anyone interested in volunteering or joining the organizing committee for the December 2026 dinner, beginning planning in September 2026, is encouraged to contact Irene Stevenson at larrystevenson@gmail.com or Susan Mooney at smooneymb@gmail.com.
