HOPE — The Memorial Community Center is taking reservations for its annual Harvest Dinner, which in turn helps feed families in need for the upcoming holiday season through its Christmas Giving program.

MCC is a nonprofit, so Caroline Speelmon, MCC site manager, said fundraisers are held throughout the year to support their nonprofit preschool program and high school scholarships. They also host meetings for local groups.

"So all of our fundraising events go to support those, and, of course, our Christmas Giving program," Speelmon said. "This event kind of kicks off our Christmas Giving program, so we ask people to bring canned food (to the dinner)."

Every guest who brings a non-perishable food item to the Harvest Dinner will receive free bucket raffle tickets. The bucket raffle prizes will vary from home crafted items to a pallet of pellets or Pres-to-Logs from Lignetics.

MCC serves approximately 50 families through the Christmas Giving program, Speelmon said. They are provided with a complete holiday meal, including a ham or turkey, as well as other staples for their pantry.

"We actually go shopping for all of the kids in the program, and the kids get to come on that day and shop for their parents or guardians, too," Speelmon said.

The Christmas Giving program is available to people between the Highway 200/Pack River area to the Montana border. Applications are available at MCC or on the organization's website, and the deadline to apply is Dec. 4.

The Harvest Dinner will begin at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 10 at the Memorial Community Center, 415 Wellington Place in Hope, with a no-host bar, complimentary appetizers, and fun-filled bucket raffles. At 6:30 p.m. a catered dinner by MCC will feature roast turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green beans, cranberry sauce, rolls, and dessert will be served.

Reservations are required and a total of 100 will be sold. Reservations are $25 each and must be paid for in advance. Reservations are available to purchase on the website at memorialcommunitycenter.com, or by calling 208-264-5481.

The Memorial Community Center was built to honor and carry on the legacy of community spirit of five young people who lost their lives in a boating accident on Lake Pend Oreille in 1982. Construction began in 1985 and the building was dedicated on April 5, 1987. The building project was funded solely from donations. In 1984 the first "Bodacious BBQ" was held at Red Fir Resort in order to raise funds for the project.

The goal of MCC, according to its website, is to provide a safe, accessible community space for activities and programs that meet the community needs; to raise consciousness through education, art, music, and culture; and to advance the full inclusion of all persons of the community.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.