Massachusetts Legion post delivers 445 meals on Christmas Day
American Legion Family members of Capt. Lester S. Wass Post 3 in Gloucester, Mass., spent their cold, snowy Christmas Day spreading warmth to veterans, the elderly, shut-ins and those staying in a local homeless shelter.
Post 3 Legion Family members and other community members braved the adverse weather conditions and delivered more than 445 ham dinners to residents in need living in the communities of Gloucester, Rockport, Manchester, Ipswich, Essex and Beverly. And they cooked and served another 45 meals at the post home. The post has been sponsoring this free Christmas dinner for decades.
“Sadly, for many residents on Cape Ann, especially our ‘golden age’ citizens, Christmas is, at best, just another day on the calendar,” said Post 3 Commander Mark Nestor. “They have nowhere to go or no one to share Christmas with them. That’s why the Capt. Lester S. Wass American Legion Post 3 sponsors the Christmas Holiday Ham Dinner.
“We at Post 3 want our fellow citizens, especially shut-ins, elderly and veterans, to know that you don’t have to be alone on Christmas Day. You have Legionnaires and fellow citizens who care and want to make a difference. The holiday meal is about those we are able to reach out to in a small way and brighten their lives.”
Nestor said the credit of cooking, serving and delivering the meals goes to the more than 65 volunteers. Nestor said one volunteer took a train from Rockport to Gloucester and was standing outside the Legion post at 7:30 a.m. in the cold ready to help and serve the meals.
“The volunteers exemplified in so many ways the true spirit and meaning of Christmas, and especially of this community that I am proud to call home,” Nestor said. “Giving unselfishly of themselves for the benefit of others.
“I cannot begin to express to these many volunteers how proud I am of them and how they rose to the occasion to ensure that American Legion Post 3 kept its promise on this cold and wintry Christmas Day.”
Post 3 is the only organization on Cape Ann that delivers meals during the holidays, according to Nestor. The post fulfills the same efforts for Thanksgiving and Easter.