Elijah's keeps holiday tradition going for 10th year in a row

VOLUNTEERS ARE needed to help stuff stockings for Elijah's annual Christmas dinner. The stockings are handed out by Santa to children during the event which is scheduled for Dec. 23.

One Jasper tradition will continue this year as Elijah's Cafe hosts its 10th annual Christmas dinner Saturday, Dec. 23 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The menu will include baked chicken, dressing, black-eyed peas, corn, cranberry sauce, rolls and banana pudding. For children, chicken nuggets and a vegetable will be offered.

Santa will make his usual appearance and will be available for photos with the children and to hand out more than 1,000 stockings stuffed with candy and toys.

A moon walk, snow machine and face painting

will be available for area youngsters who attend the event.

Volunteers are needed to help stuff the stockings at Hillcrest Baptist Church on Dec. 21 at noon.

Elijah's event is completely volunteer-driven and volunteers will work in shifts. Anyone interested in volunteering may call the Elijah office at 489-9984.

"We also need volunteers to help out with the dinner," said Bethany Manicom, office manager for Elijah's. "We have volunteers who do just about everything up there including serve, cook and clean. The event is open to everybody."

VOLUNTEERS help out in the kitchen preparing the meal for the many that come annually to the Elijah's Christmas dinner.The event is free and open to the public and will feature Santa and a moonwalk and snow machine.

Donations of cash and toys may be left at the restaurant on U.S. Highway 190 in Jasper.

"We prefer cash but we will take a donation of anything," Manicom said. "The money donations work better because then we can go out and shop for what will fit in the stockings."

Donations can be dropped off at either Elijah's locations in Jasper or Kirbyville.

Shuttle buses will be available to drive residents from the Kirbyville area to the Jasper location for the dinner.