GREEN BAY, Wis. (NBC 26) — The holidays can be the best time of the year for many Northeast Wisconsinites. But some will spend Christmas completely alone.
It's an experience Denise McFarlin knows well, which is why she's taking on her biggest project yet.
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"There's probably only one other day in the year, your birthday, that is more devastating to be alone," she said.
Last Christmas, Four Winds Ministries of WI provided 500 free meals for members of the community. This year, the group is taking on 750 deliveries. And McFarlin says they need volunteers and donations to help get the job done.
"We know that we're stronger together as a community and so we are looking for people who might be alone on Christmas," she said. "So they want to volunteer or maybe their an empty nester."
It all takes place at Spring Lake Church in Green Bay, where helpers will setup to-go meals and deliver food across the city.
"We've heard from several homeless families that will be picking up their meals because there isn't a residence for us to drop them off," McFarlin said.
McFarlin has enough to prepare 750 dinners of ham, baked potatoes, corn, rolls and cookies.
"We do know that the need is great," she said. "We've heard from many elderly and homebound people."
The majority of the food was donated by local restaurants and caterers the last 14 years. But in 2021, all of it was purchased.
"Currently we also know that there's an increased food cost, so we're at a bit of a shortfall for donations this year," McFarlin said. "We're at about half of our goal to pay for this year's meal."
Despite that deficit, anyone can get a meal. And for those alone this holiday: "at least a friendly delivery driver and knock on the door to say 'hey, we remembered you this year.'"
If you'd like to help out, donate or eat, head to the Four Winds Ministries Wisconsin Facebook page or visit the group's website here.
McFarlin is also searching for donations of blankets and Christmas cards. She says anyone willing can drop off the items on Dec. 25.
Volunteers at the event will be masked and gloved while preparing the meals. And all leftovers will be given to local homeless shelters.
Supplies were ordered with the help of The Marq Supper Club in De Pere, and potatoes were baked at Green Bay's Crisis Cafe.
