The JAMS Family Christmas will be returning to the Knox Hall on Christmas Day, December 25. The JAMS Family Christmas is hosted by the Spencer family, who have run the dinner for the past 13 years.
“In 2003 my husband Daryl passed away from a massive aneurysm at the age of 44. I was left with three children aged 8, 14 and 16. My husband and I had always loved the idea of a soup kitchen and in his memory my children and I opened up a small restaurant for families to come and spend time together. We called this restaurant the JAMS Family Fun Center. The acronym JAMS is the first letter for each of my girls names as well as my own. Jen, Ali, Mikki, Sandy,” said Sandy Johnson.
“At Christmas that first year, we did not feel like celebrating due to our grief so we decided to make a new memory,” said Johnson. “On Christmas Day we hosted 53 people for Christmas Dinner in our restaurant. These people were folks like us who had either lost someone or were going to spend Christmas Day alone. Several people in our community donated food or cash to buy food so we could offer the meal for free. It was such a huge success that we decided to make it a yearly event.”
The JAMS Family Fun Centre ended up closing the next year, but the Spencer family continued to host the Christmas dinner. “We decorate with lights, tables with red tablecloths and white lace and placemats. We use real dinnerware and fancy decorations. Most years we have volunteers come to sing Christmas carols and have even had a busker walk through the crowd with his guitar singing. We have added door prizes which are usually wrapped or in gift bags. People love it and look so happy.”
The main goal of the JAMS Family Christmas dinner was to be a welcoming place for anyone who was going to spend Christmas alone. “We have individuals ranging in age from babies to being in their 90s and from many different socioeconomic areas. We have also added home deliveries to shut ins,” said Johnson. The suggested price of the JAMS Family Christmas is $10, but the price is dropped to nothing for anyone who can not afford to pay. “Over the past 13 years we have hosted well over 1,000 people for Christmas Dinner,” said Johnson. “We have also raised several thousand dollars when people pay for their meals, which we donate back into the community each year.”
Since that first Christmas, the Spencer family has hosted 11 dinners. Each year individuals in the community donate cash so that purchases can be made to help host future dinners. In addition, the Spencer family has accumulated the equipment necessary to host the dinner in its entirety.
“When it comes to volunteers we have been very blessed. Even on Christmas Day there are folks willing to leave their families to come and help. We even have one family who do not attend the dinner, but come to wash dishes at the end of the meal,” said Johnson. “It would be difficult to name all of the donors as there have been so many over the years.”
Over the years, Johnson has been amazed by the support of her daughters and family. “They have been doing this since their teens and all now have spouses of their own. All of these children have dedicated their Christmases to host our family dinner. My five grandchildren have never known a Christmas without JAMS. Even my new husband of five years has gotten into the spirit. His mother even came to help one year. JAMS Christmas Day dinner has become a legacy that we intend to continue.”
This year, the JAMS Family Christmas dinner has a particular ‘Christmas Wish’ they are hoping to be granted. They are seeking a donation of a small trailer, that could house the 50 totes and boxes with all the JAMS Family Christmas supplies. Currently, those totes and boxes are located in a basement, making it very difficult to get to.
“Each year we have to form an assembly line going out of the lower level in our basement, up the stairs, out the door and into the back of our trucks. We hoist these boxes hand over hand until all are loaded into the truck. It is extremely physically taxing,” said Johnson. “Then at the end of a very long couple days, we form that same line on Christmas day to bring everything back into the house.”
Last year, the JAMS Family Christmas dinner had to be cancelled since Sandy, her husband and daughter all had orthopedic surgeries and were unable to perform these tasks. “If it should ever happen again, we would be able to hand the trailer over to volunteers with minimal fanfare,” said Johnson.
Donating to the JAMS Family Christmas is even more efficient this year, since the Spencer family has created a Go Fund Me page called “JAMSCHRISTMASDINNER” for online donations.
