Free Christmas dinner draws more than 100 participants

Maya Stout is only 5, but she wields a mean gravy ladle.

"I got the messy part," she said as 10-year-old Caleb Gast scooped mashed potatoes onto a plate and passed it to her.

Maya mashed down the center of the potatoes and dumped gravy into the resulting indentation in one deft motion before passing the tray to her brother, 11-year-old Gabe Stout, as their mother, Paula, handed out rolls.

The Stouts were among more than 100 volunteers who turned out Thursday afternoon to serve a free Christmas dinner hosted by Student Santas, said Jennifer Icaza-Gast, the organization's founder and Caleb Gast's mother.

Paula Stout said her children were excited about volunteering on Christmas.

"I just think it's so wonderful for them to learn that there are many people in need. ... We want them to learn about servanthood and to have a servant's heart," she said.

Leonard Spicer, a retired Marine corporal who attended the event with two other members of the Cpl. Mason O. Yarbrough detachment of the Marine Corps League, said volunteering is good for children.

"They need to see that," Spicer said.

Spicer and retired Marine sergeants Ralph Craig and Jim Maevers came prepared to distribute gifts from the Toys for Tots program.

"Ready to hand out toys," Maevers said. "We just need tots."

The Cape Girardeau-based Marine Corps League detachment distributes toys to more than 2,000 children in Bollinger, Cape Girardeau, Scott and Stoddard counties, Craig said.

He said he received about 50 calls this year from new program applicants.

"I'd say the need is up, but the willingness to give is equally as up," Craig said.

The turnout for the meal Thursday seemed to back up Craig's assessment, with the number of volunteers roughly matching the number of beneficiaries.

"We ended up feeding over 100 people total for the day," Icaza-Gast said in a telephone interview Thursday evening. "... With this being the first year, I'm tickled."

Icaza-Gast and Lyle Randolph, general manager of Isle Casino Cape Girardeau -- which contributed meat, equipment and volunteers to the event -- said they learned from the event.

"This is a first-time, learning process for us, too," Randolph said. "If we can help a few families out, that'd be great."

Icaza-Gast said one of the lessons they learned was timing: Most of the guests arrived later in the afternoon, so next year, organizers may schedule the meal later in the day.

She said Student Santas also is considering a more central location, and Isle Casino may provide a shuttle service to help people get to the event.

"We've kind of learned through this first go-'round," Icaza-Gast said. "... It was just worth it. It was a great day."

epriddy@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, MO