Cheer, food at Lazarus House

A small crowd started gathering outside of the Free Methodist Church in St. Charles just before lunch.

Inside, volunteers from the community and Lazarus House prepared huge trays of turkey and chicken, pasta, salads, roasted vegetables, cookies and cakes and all of the festive trimmings.

"If you go away hungry from this place, there is something wrong with you," said Tom Hartman, who has lived at Lazarus House for the past 14 months. "They always have so much food and pie."

Tuesday's brunch was the fifth time Lazarus House, a community home that serves men, women and children, who are in need of support, has hosted the Christmas Day feast.

"The reason we have this is so people can come and create a community," said Lazarus House Executive Director Darlene Marcusson. "It is nice to have 150 people share a meal. We are grateful that the event continues to be significant in the community and we are thankful for the community support."

Volunteers passed out Christmas stockings to children who missed Santa's visit earlier in the day. Dozens of dishes lined tables with cookie plates and trays dotting the packed room. Adults mingled around the juice bowl and sang Christmas favorites like "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer."

"We came down here to share a Christmas lunch and prayer with friends," said Jim Useni, of St. Charles who attended with his two children, Besiana, 10, and Jon, 9. "This is our first time but we might do it again next year because it is such a wonderful meal."

Those who volunteered were also fulfilled.

"We wanted to give back to the community because it is Christmas," said Colleen Eichmann of St. Charles who was volunteering with a host of relatives before enjoying a family gathering.

"We pass Lazarus House all of the time and think what can we do? This is a good way to give back."