Volunteers Serve the Northland a Free Holiday Meal

DULUTH - Every year, the Duluth community comes together to serve more than 500 people a fresh homemade Christmas Eve dinner.

The holiday dinner at the Duluth VFW 137 has been going for 30 years strong, and this year there's over 100 volunteers putting on the entire thing.

“This truly is made with love,” said event coordinator Ken Linn. “These volunteers are amazing.”

There aren't any big sponsors, or a cost to get in, just hard working volunteers using a power drill to mash the 500 pounds of potatoes.

"Makes me pretty happy that I still get to spend the time with my family and be around my friends,” explained veteran Benjamin Hatton. “I can honor them by giving back a little bit.”

Hatton calls himself the potato-master.

He served in Iraq in 2006, and came home with two purple hearts. His reason for being here is simple.

“Some of my buddies, they didn't make it home,” Hatton said. “I'm sure they would be doing the same thing for me.”

Hatton isn’t the only one working hard in the kitchen.

“It's just a nice home cooked meal,” said 16-year-old Taylor Zambory said. “Maybe some people get their dinners out of a can every night.”

Zambory and Hatton, like many others, give up their Christmas Eve to volunteer.

They support those who need a little extra help, or just a hearty Minnesota made homemade Christmas dinner.

“There's some old saying, it actually does feel better to give than to receive,” Linn said. “And that's very true.”