COEUR d’ALENE — When Ken and Ginger Wright couldn’t get together with their children for Christmas, they did the next best thing: They enjoyed Christmas dinner with strangers — and made new friends.

“We wanted to be around people,” Ginger Wright said as she and Ken, retired educators, chatted with Nancy Tolley, also an educator. “The opportunity to share food with other people at Christmas time is always kind of first and foremost in our lives.”

The Wrights decided they liked the idea of not having to cook for the holiday.

"The food is excellent,” Ken Wright said. “A little bit overwhelming."

"It’s fantastic," Ginger Wright added.

The free Christmas dinner was served up by the Altar Church food bank and Cherished Ones Ministries on a cold, cloudy Saturday.

When the doors opened at noon at Cherished Ones’ kitchen at Second and Indiana a big crowd quickly formed in the food line. They were rewarded with ham, meatloaf, chicken, mashed potatoes, beets and endless desserts.

Guests were greeted by spirited and joyous volunteers, including a number of kids, who prepared, served, delivered and cleaned up.

One of them was Tina Wilkins.

“I’m very blessed to have a lot of stuff," she said. “A lot of people do not. I wanted to extend part of that blessing to them.”

People chatted as they ate, enjoying the warmth of holiday hospitality. Before it was over, hundreds went home full and happy.

Greg Lindbergh finished his meal and glanced around the festive scene that included a man playing his guitar, decorations and signs professing a love for Christ. He said he appreciated the effort to provide a Christmas dinner and spread good will.

“It’s something that’s very much needed by the community,” he said. “A of these people get left by the side of the road.”

Richie and Rikki Childers pitched in and brought along their children Jerzey Franks, 10, and Junior Antoine, 6, and friend Maya Maynard, 10.

Jerzey Franks liked serving people and hoped it would “make them feel better.”

Junior Antoine was smiling as he piled potatoes on a plate, though he couldn’t say for sure what he enjoyed most.

“I don’t know,” he said.

Rikki Childers said they started their Christmas Day at home, opened presents and gave thanks. Then, they headed for Cherished Ones, where they have volunteered on Christmas for several years.

“It's important to teach them what it is to serve others, that Christmas isn’t just about the presents,” Rikki Childers said.

It’s about giving to others, she said, and making them feel loved.

“We live in a great community,” she said. "There’s so much love here.”