BUCKHANNON — If you don’t have much time to cook or are worried about the cost of making an elaborate Christmas dinner, the Upshur Parish House wants you to know that there’s still time to make reservations for a Christmas Day Dinner takeout meal.

The annual Community Christmas Day Dinner hosted by the Upshur Parish House will be held again this year; however, it will be takeout or delivery only. No in-person dining option will be offered.

Takeout meals will be available for pickup at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 88 South Kanawha Street, Buckhannon, beginning at noon and ending at 1:30 p.m. on December 25. To schedule a meal delivery, call 304-472-4465 before December 23.

In fact, there’s still time to sign up to volunteer and help with the dinner, too.

The dinner is open to any Upshur County resident who would like a Christmas meal, and there are no income guidelines for this dinner. Anyone who would like a Christmas meal is welcome to one, either takeout or delivery, depending on availability of delivery drivers.

“The dinner is a full meal of ham and chicken, plenty of sides and dessert,” Upshur Parish House Director Kristi Wilkerson said. “Carol Meese does a wonderful job coordinating the annual Christmas Day Dinner. It’s homemade and always tastes great! We are so appreciative of Carol, all the volunteers, and all the donors who work hard to make the dinner happen each year. We are hopeful that we can have dine-in again next year, but for this year, we welcome those who would like a meal to pick up takeout or call ahead for delivery.”

Volunteers are needed on both December 23 and December 25 to prep, package, and deliver meals. All volunteers are required to wear facial coverings and gloves. Please call 304-472-4465 if you are interested and available to volunteer.

The dinner is free of charge. Freewill donations are accepted. Community members, businesses, churches and organizations can make tax-deductible contributions to help cover the cost of the meal. Checks can be mailed to Upshur Parish House, 68 College Avenue, Buckhannon, WV 26201. Please note that the gift is earmarked for the 2020 Christmas Day Dinner.

“We appreciate all those who volunteer their time and services, donate generously and always support the mission and ministry of the Upshur Parish House and Crosslines,” Wilkerson said. “We wish you a very Merry Christmas and abundant blessings in the New Year!”