Temecula Rotary To Host 29th Community Christmas Day Dinner

TEMECULA, CA — For Rotary clubs around the country, it is tradition to serve a fully cooked Christmas Day meal to anyone in the community who wishes to partake — Temecula is no different.

For a 29th year, the Sunrise, Noon and Old Town Rotary Clubs of Temecula will offer a warm plate of ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, vegetables and, of course, dessert on Christmas Day.

Dinner will be served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Mt. San Jacinto College Cafe at 41888 Motor Car Pkwy. in Building A. Guests can enter from Margarita Road.

“The Community Christmas Dinner brings people from the community together who want to share the joy and spirit of Christmas,” Mark Sitar, chair of the event, said. “This is not a soup kitchen for the unfortunate, although everyone is welcome. This is for anyone who wants a place to go on Christmas Day. It is a simple concept that touches people throughout our community."

And if you're in the giving spirit and have some free time that day, Rotary is looking for volunteers. To get involved, call Julie Ngo at 619-246-0489. You can also make a tax-deductible donation online here, or send check made payable to “Community Christmas Dinner” and mail it to P.O. Box 2203, Temecula, CA 92593.

“It is the holiday spirit that is important. The warm atmosphere filled with laughter and stories from past years goes around each table. Santa Claus passes out presents to the children and pictures are taken with Santa and the children. Tips are refused, but hugs and handshakes are always welcome,” Sitar said.

Correction: A previous version of this article did not include that the Temecula Noon and Old Town Rotary clubs were involved in the dinner.