Creating Christmas Cheer

Friday, Dec. 25, 2020

St. Joseph Parish in Ogden spearheaded an effort to give 250 boxes containing complete Christmas dinners to families in need. Fr. Michael Sciumbato, pastor, said he saw numerous newscasts about people in need, and also many people were asking for help at the parish door, so he decided to ask his parishioners to “prepare something for people to have a good Christmas dinner with … and treats for the kids afterward.” Many Ogden-area agencies that typically distribute holiday food baskets were unable to do so this year, said parishioner Catherine Hansing, who organized the collection efforts. In addition to gathering donations from parishioners, they had collaboration from local businesses, the Your Community Connection and wards of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The bishop’s storehouse in Ogden contributed the turkeys and hams that went into the boxes, which also included canned vegetables, potatoes, fresh bread, gravy, stuffing, cookies and butter. The boxes went to families that ranged in size from three to nine members. On Dec. 19, those receiving the boxes drove to the church, and youth from the parish carried the boxes out to the cars, maintaining social distancing. “Families still need to eat,” Hansing said.