COLUSA, CA (MPG) — Friendship Hall buzzed with activity on Christmas Day as the Colusa Yuletide Dinner marked its 41st year of serving the community.
Volunteers prepared and distributed more than 280 meals, including 220 delivered across Colusa County and more than 60 served as dine-in or to-go meals. The total surpassed last year’s count by more than 30 meals.
Friendship Hall in Colusa. Photo courtesy of Molly Knappen
“The hall was filled with the Christmas spirit and the joy of working together as a community,” said the Yuletide Dinner committee in a letter to the Pioneer Review.
Longtime volunteers who helped found the dinner in 1984 worked alongside first-time helpers. By midmorning, turkeys, pies, and side dishes filled the kitchen. Earl Stegall cooked 20 turkeys, all delivered by 9:30 a.m., according to organizers.
“Carvers carved, potato peelers cooked and mashed potatoes, pie servers dished up pie,” the committee said.
Others prepared dressing and gravy, served plates, delivered hot meals throughout the county, and stayed late to wash dishes and clean Friendship Hall.
“It was a great day filled with the spirit of Christmas,” said Colusa Mayor Pro Tem Denise Conrado. “More helpers, and more people served more than ever.”
Organizers credited both donated food and financial support for keeping the tradition alive. The committee thanked the Rotary Club of Colusa, the Clark and Nelson law firm, Melissa Chesini and the 2025 Turkey Trot group, Barbra and Dan O’Connell, Jon and Roberta James, and Jon and Colleen Wrysinski.
“Without this support, we would not be able to continue this tradition,” the committee said.
The Yuletide Dinner committee includes Janet Anderson, Denise Conrado, Marie Myers, and Elizabeth Yerxa.