Four Winds Ministries Christmas meal delivery
Dec 25, 2024
GREEN BAY, Wis (WFRV) – For the 16th year, Four Winds Ministries is making sure that families in need have a special meal to enjoy this Christmas.
Volunteers from across the community worked tirelessly to pack and deliver meals to over 750 people in the Green Bay area, bringing holiday cheer to those who might otherwise spend the day alone or without a festive meal.
"This is year 16 of feeding people on Christmas Day. We purchased food for 750 back in November, not knowing what the need would be. Today, we’re packing that food, and we’ve got gifts for each meal recipient," said Denise McFarlin, co-founder of Community Christmas Meal.
The meals being delivered include ham, baked potatoes, two kinds of vegetables, a roll, a handmade dessert, and a gift, with each bag decorated with a homemade snowflake and a poem.
The meals are packed by volunteers, and each delivery includes a small gift or card of encouragement for recipients.
"Aside from your birthday, Christmas is probably the second loneliest day if you're celebrating alone or don't have a nice meal to share with someone. We're here to help fill that gap and bring a little cheer," McFarlin explained.
Volunteers are crucial to the success of their mission. They help with everything from packing meals to wrapping gifts and delivering the packages to families in need.
Many volunteers come back year after year, driven by the desire to give back to their community.
Chris Stock, a volunteer, shared his motivation for helping. "I just want to give. Christmas is often about consumerism, but here, I get to help people who really need it. That’s all it takes for me," he said.
The gifts that accompany the meals are another way that Four Winds Ministries brings joy to those in need.
"People are really appreciative even just for a small gift or a card of encouragement. It’s a bright spot in their day," McFarlin said. "We hear from many meal recipients how much it means to them."
This year, Four Winds Ministries is still in need of donations to help cover the cost of the food and gifts, which are purchased ahead of time. "We buy all the food and gifts before we know what the donations will look like, but we’ve always managed to pull it off with the help of our community. This year, we’re still a little short, but any donation will go towards a good cause," McFarlin explained.
Anyone interested in helping can visit Four Winds Ministries’ website or contact McFarlin directly.
Donations and volunteers are still needed, as the organization continues to make a difference in the lives of many this Christmas.