After serving and delivering free Christmas dinners throughout Hannibal for the past 18 years, LulaBelle’s restaurant expects to increase the meal count this year from 300 to more than 500. This is because some new agencies will have meals delivered, and the economy may cause more to want them delivered at homes.
Michael and Pam Ginsberg, owners of LulaBelle’s, say no matter how many more meals are needed, they will make sure all are provided.
The meals are delivered to everyone in the Hannibal area who request them, along with the senior adults who have meals delivered by the Hannibal Nutrition Center, which is closed for the holiday.
And since the nutrition center is also delivering meals to the residents of the Hannibal Community Supervision Center and the Hannibal Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, the restaurant has added these agencies to its delivery list, Michael explained.
Another change this year is caused by the economy, Michael said. LulaBelle’s food suppliers are not donating as much of the food as in years past, when much of the ham dinner was donated by the restaurant’s food vendors. The restaurant now buys its food instead of using one of its former food vendors.
This year local people will have a new opportunity to help with this special holiday dinner. In addition to helping deliver or serve it, people may participate by donating funds to help pay for the food or donate food items such as hams and desserts. “The nutrition center will help with some food,” Michael said.
“We are continuing what we do and will absorb the expense, but we can use some help,” he said. “We figure it will cost $1,200,” Michael explained. “It’s always been about $2 per person.
“A little bit of help will make it easier for us to do. We are suffering in the same economy that everybody else is.”
The public also is invited to come and eat dinner at the restaurant at 111 Bird St., Pam said. “I want to encourage people who are alone or just want to share the holiday to come on down.” Dinner will be delivered between 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. and served in the restaurant from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The traditional menu will again be provided. It includes ham, au gratin potatoes, green bean casserole, salad, rolls and dessert.
Donated desserts
needed this year
One special need this year is desserts for up to 500 people, because a group that previously supplied them is not doing so this year.
Pam said she would welcome any desserts that can be donated. “They could call if they could bake a cake or pie,” she said.
Anyone who can donate a dessert is requested to call the Ginsbergs at LulaBelle’s at (573) 221-6662, so she will know in advance how many she will need to prepare. “Please let me as soon as possible, so I can count on it,” Pam said. She will start making desserts two days before Christmas.
Michael explained that the deliveries will be again coordinated by George Danforth, who has been doing this for many years. More volunteers are expected to be needed this year because of the added deliveries. Anyone who would like to help is requested to call LulaBelle’s, so the delivery routes can be planned. “Deliveries are done first, and that is the area we need the most help doing,” Michael said.
Requests for meals also are made by calling the restaurant in advance. Michael said it makes it easier for him to know in advance how many and where they are requested. “We accept all requests for delivery, but advance notice will help us decide what we have to purchase.”
To request a delivery, leave a name and address, along with the number of dinners requested. The dinners are delivered in rural Hannibal, also, he said. “We go to New London and Monkey Run. We have had lots of rural spots.”
Volunteers are needed to help prepare the dinner this Christmas. “We really could use one or two people who have actual commercial experience (in the kitchen) because we don’t have time to teach what to do,” Michael said. “If someone has been involved in any type of food production, we can use them. Everybody always has a good time and feels good about being involved in what we do.” About 50 volunteers help each year, he said, with 30 delivering and 20 working in the restaurant.
Pam explained that some families make it a Christmas tradition to come and help prepare and serve the dinner. Among them are Anne and Todd Lear and their daughters, Maggie and Abby. Others include Len Moss, and Steve and Linn Ayers.
"Scott and Jean Meyer and their family have helped for many years,” Pam said, as have Bill and Terri Martin. “Lots of people come, some every other year,” she added. “Sally Poole has helped me quite a few years. ...We have a lot of volunteers who come off and on.”
The Ginsbergs’ daughters are among the traditional group. Pam explained that their daughter Laura Judlowe and her husband, Lucas, are coming from Sedalia “and his family will probably be helping.” And their daughter Emma Ginsberg may be accompanied by Brian Livingston, a chef she is dating.
Pam added that whether she and Michael get donations to help with the dinner or not, it will continue. “This year with things being the way that they are, I’m bound and determined that we are going to do it,” she said. “It hasn’t been a banner year, so we will just end it on a good note.”
