A Servant’s Heart in Ottawa serves 75 Christmas meals

A Servant’s Heart, an Ottawa nonprofit, hosted its annual Christmas dinner Friday to feed the community and provided gifts to community kitchen clients.

The organization prepared turkey, ham, mashed potatoes with gravy, green bean casserole, French bread, stuffing, pecan pie and apple pie, macaroni and cheese, and more holiday favorites. Volunteers served more than 75 meals, including carryout.

“It was wonderful,” Executive Director Sonjia Martin said. “I think it was one of the best Christmases that we’ve done here.”

Volunteers who served and prepared the meal included Jennifer, Logan and Jordan Kirkman of Ottawa; Jessica and Katelyn Wilson of Seneca; Reese Harkins of Seneca; Lucy and Conor Obodzinski of Seneca; Christopher Day of Ottawa; and Jeremiah Cotton of Ottawa.

Martin, Connie Daugherty, board member Catherine Wilson and Shane Reeves also worked at the event.

The Starved Rock Regional Center donated gifts for the event, and the First Baptist Church of Ottawa performed.

Director of Finance Beth Campeotto said the staff and families at the Starved Rock Regional Center bought gifts to donate.

“Everyone deserves to have a good Christmas,” she said.

A Servant’s Heart serves lunch from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 516 W. Madison St. in Ottawa. The doors open at 10:30 a.m.

Those wishing to help can drop off donations at 610 W. Jefferson St. in Ottawa from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or at 516 W. Madison St. in Ottawa from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.