A holiday tradition will continue for the 42nd year next Monday, December 19, at the UAW Hall in Wallaceburg. The Childs family will hold their annual luncheon in support of the Salvation Army.
Mark Childs, of the Black Goose Grill, said they need to raise $6,000 this year to eclipse the $300,000 mark.
“We are hoping for $8,000. We just want to get over the $300,000, so we can all high five each other. It has been a long time coming,” Childs said.
Food will start being served at 11 a.m. and the last sitting will take place at 1:15 p.m.
Cost is a monetary donation, which all goes to the Salvation Army.
“We donate all the food and we have a couple staff, just key people to help serve it,” Childs said.
“So basically it is volunteers over the years that come and help pour coffee and stuff. We have a couple of suppliers (Morton Wholesale Ltd and GFS) that help out a little bit with some of the food products.”
Childs said Brian from Kent Sanitation in Wallaceburg is providing paper plates and napkins as well.
“It is a good deal,” he said.
“We usually get 500 people every year. I am hoping for 600 to 700 this year.”
Childs said the meal includes a large selection of items.
“We put out everything,” Childs said.
“It changes as the day goes on, but there is meat items, potato items, the beef stew is second to none. That beef stew is worth the trip. Desserts, coffee and basically salad. We just took away the soup. Only because it slowed everything down getting everybody through. There will be ribs this year as well.”
Childs added: “Trust me, nobody walks away hungry. It is basically called a ‘poor boys lunch’. We do the beans and wieners and stuff too. That is basically what it always was.”
To date this year, the Salvation Army has collected approximately 35% ($158,933) of their annual Christmas campaign goal.
