Beacon provides Christmas Eve meal
Last Tuesday, Dec. 24, Beacon of Hope Executive Director Nancy Cote continued a long held and beloved tradition by the Beacon to make sure that every Pine Islander gets a Christmas meal.
“The community helped, like they always do. It was just an awesome event. Close to 80 meals went out and we had an outpouring of food and support,” Cote said of the event, which she described as a grass-roots movement.
Cote also said the Beacon is currently looking for ideas for next year as well as more volunteers. The folks who volunteer to prepare these meals have been happily doing so since the inception of the event, as a community service she said.
With the belief that many hands make light work, Cote said she is quite impressed, although not surprised that so many islanders went out of their way to care for one another.
“The Beacon of Hope is grateful to all our fellow islanders who took time out of their Christmas Eve morning to prepare food for those islanders needing a meal this holiday season. From those who cooked portions of the meal, bought prepared items, and the whole street in Matlacha that cut up the 182 pounds of ham donated by the law firm of Seth Apler,” Cote said.
Chefs included Carolyn Anglin, Judy Dann, Alison Kinch, Nary Magturo, Lisa Marclinski, Debbie Memoli, Barbara Polek, Barb Riordan, Jacqulin Schleselman, Jessica Skortuski, Lauren Tristano, Jodi Welch, Lynn and Tom Zigoris, Ralph and Carlyn Herring, Tom Ferguson, Felicia Libretto, Peggy, Bonnie Potter and Jill Weaver.
Prep was provided by Gary and Linda Benker, Jake Saplak, Fran Tangman and Lynn and Tom Zigoris.
Drivers included Tonya Altemeyer, Ashley Bircther, Tom Crosby, Kelly Cruz, Sue Dahod, Brittany Dobbs, Carroll Garland, Eileen Hoffman, Randy Lewis, Tracy Lewis, Katty Weinberg, Jody Welch, Rick Welch and John Kussann.
The Beacon of Hope — “Helping our People Excel” — is located at 5090 Doug Taylor Circle, St. James City. For more information, call 239-283-5123 or visit www.BeaconofHopePineIsland.com.