Webb Center Christmas dinner to again honor Freeman

For the fourth year, Webb Community Center will host a free dinner on Christmas Day for the public, and for the second year it will be held in honor of the late Nathaniel L. "Bob" Freeman, who served as the center's board president until his death last year.

"He was the one who really got this thing started in the beginning," William Watkins, executive director of the Webb Center, said Friday. "The Christmas dinner and the Halloween deal were both his idea."

The dinner will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 25 at the center, located at 127 Pleasant St., and will once again be a "sit down dinner" with volunteers serving the food as opposed to the buffet style many offer.

Watkins said they will also be delivering meals to disabled people who can't make it to the event in person.

Freeman, 69, who died Nov. 26, 2016, had served as board president since 2012 and was the driving force behind the annual Christmas dinner and the annual Halloween party held for area children.

A U.S. Army veteran, Freeman also served on the Civil Service Commission, the Hot Springs School Board since 1999 and on the boards of the YMCA, Habitat for Humanity and the local Red Cross. He was a deacon and Sunday school teacher at Roanoke Baptist Church.

Freeman had started working on plans for the Christmas dinner at the time of his death and Watkins said they decided they would do all they could to still pull it off on his behalf and ended up serving well over 200 people last year.

He said they hope to continue the event in his honor every year, but stressed they need the community's help with monetary donations and volunteers to help prepare the food, serve it and clean up after.

Those who want to help can also donate items such as plates, cups, napkins, plastic ware, and they are taking up a collection of "gently used coats, hats, and gloves" to give out to those in need who attend.

"This gets bigger every year," Watkins said. "We're just hoping to keep it going."

Anyone wishing to donate can make their check payable to the Webb Center in care of the Christmas Dinner event, he said, noting it is tax deductible. Those wishing to volunteer can contact Watkins at the center at 623-7491 or his cell at 622-0416 or email him at [email protected].

Local on 12/10/2017

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