RENFREW COUNTY – At this time last year, organizers were saying the end was nigh for the annual free Christmas dinner held in Arnprior.

But thanks to a last-minute volunteer organizer, the Annual Arnprior Community Christmas Dinner lives on, only one day early.

The community dinner, which provides a free Christmas dinner for those who might not be in a financial position to have one, has been taken over by Darren Wood, who runs a kids fishing derby in the summer. Wood stepped up to the plate when he recently found out the previous group was ending its efforts.

“When I took it over, I didn’t have time to reorganize my Christmas,” Wood told Oldies 107.7 FM. “So we decided we would do it on Dec. 24., from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Nick Smith Centre.”

Wood stresses this is not a hand-out meal, it’s a free community get-together with your friends and neighbours.

Wood was able to receive permission from the Town of Arnprior to use the site at town coouncil’s Dec. 9 meeting, and quickly swung into gear.

In Renfrew, the 28th annual Christmas Day Community Friendship Dinner provides a free turkey meal to those in the Renfrew area. For the past 20-years, Brian Long has helped organize the event for those who either can’t afford their own or who have no one else to celebrate with.

This year’s event is being held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Renfrew from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Long says there will be turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy and veggies at no cost. 

• Courtesy Oldies 107.7 FM