Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

For a retired, single man fighting a rare disease, Dan didn’t mind waiting in Saturday’s long line-up for Christmas dinner.

The line-up at the Oliver fire hall was backed up all the way to Airport Street and then some.

Due to COVID-19, the Oliver Alliance Church teamed up with the fire department to provide a drive-thru turkey dinner that is normally held at the community centre.

“This is just excellent . . . a drive thru, I’m looking forward to it,” said Dan.

Most of his grandchildren live in Scotland and Calgary, so he is on his own.

“I brought my neighbour down and we’re spending Christmas together. It’s a few days early but why not?  It’s a celebration of community which is really important.”

Dan said everyone has been cooped up because of COVID-19, which really “gets to you” after a while.

“The past year has been very tough. I require surgery every three months in Kelowna, so I have to go, as they say, in the belly of the beast . . . you just don’t know.”

Next in line waiting for the meal was William.

“Both my wife and I are on pension, so this is helping quite a lot, otherwise, I don’t know what would happen. I was

going to have some kind of dinner at home, but this is much better.”

William said the past 12 months have been “rough.”

“There are so many places you can’t go, you have to say at home, my wife is on disability, so I’m looking forward to a hot meal.”

In another vehicle, a feline named “Cinderella” (wearing a Santa hat) was perched on her owner’s lap.

“I think this is a great event, but it’s so sad that we can’t sit around a table because of COVID,” Catie said.

The single woman stated she normally doesn’t have Christmas dinner because she lives alone.

Catie said this is the first time she has seen a drive-thru Christmas dinner.

“It’s wonderful the fire people are doing this. I have the highest respect for firemen.”

Catie noted the past year has been “awful.”

“I feel really sad for the floods and the people who lost their homes . . .  my heart goes out to them.”

The woman pointed out she is fortunate that she’s not out in the cold and living on the street.

In the next vehicle, Tom said it’s beautiful what people are doing here.

“It shows what type of community we live in, right?”

Patiently waiting in line was Ollie, who attended the event to pick up a couple of meals for two old ladies who live in his apartment building.

“It’s Christmas time and everyone helps each other out. This is something a lot of people can’t do on their own.”

Alejo, sitting in another vehicle, was a past volunteer at this event.

“This is one of the greatest events in the community . . . I’m just helping friends, grabbing some food and delivering it to people who can’t attend.”

Lennia, in the next vehicle, said she used to attend the dinner when it was held at the community centre.

“We didn’t get one last year, so this is really nice . . . it’s better than nothing, and you can’t beat a hot meal on a night like this.”

A volunteer brings a Christmas dinner to one of many motorists at the drive-thru event on Saturday.
(Photo by Lyonel Doherty)