Team all ready for 500 guests

Christmas Day community lunch committee chairman Dave Moore (right) and head cook Karen Groot familiarise themselves with the kitchen at the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre. Photo / Andrew Warner

Feeding an expected 500 diners and not even being sure how many will turn up on the day is a logistical operation months in the planning.

Behind this year's Rotorua Christmas Day Community Lunch is a well-organised operation involving a committed committee, large team of volunteers, the generosity and love of Rotorua, and of course the warmth of the guests.

Organised by the combined churches of Rotorua, the free event is open to anyone, especially those who are alone or unable to afford a Christmas meal.

The committee has been convening for four months organising the 80 volunteers, food and entertainers.

Well-known speaker Kingi Biddle will MC the day. Gifts, money and food have been donated by the Rotorua Energy Charitable Trust, churches, local groups and the wider community.

Committee chairman Dave Moore said nearly 400 people had registered already.

"The focus is for people who will be on their own. It's all about bringing people together and celebrating the day providing for those who can't afford a special meal on the day.

"It's a great reflection of the heart we have in our wider community. To be able to make that special for so many people - that's what makes it great."

Pastor Karen Groot doesn't call herself a chef. Her culinary skills come from cooking on marae, where she said she's not even the head cook. It's her fifth year working at the community lunch, and her second at the Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre - an old hand, who doesn't lose any sleep over the big task ahead.

"It went smoothly last year - you just kind of deal with it. We've got a good team of workers. It takes a bit of organising but I'm grateful for the venue and the mayor giving it to us. We wouldn't have been able to do it without it."

Her job is to set the menu, order food and come up with the number of volunteers needed.

The vegetables are prepped and puddings cooked the day before and the tables prepared by a team of 40. On Christmas morning the meat is cooked at Rotorua's Te Wananga o Aotearoa kitchen all ready to be picked up and carved at the venue.

For a busy person being able to continue the community connection and giving back is what makes it all worthwhile.

"Rotorua's people are some of the most generous I've known. My daughters always ask why I am doing it and say 'we want you home with us'. I say 'you have me all year, but Christmas Day is a time for others'."

The numbers

* 80kg of potatoes
* 40 whole chickens
* 20kg kumara
* 8 pumpkins
* 7 legs of pork
* 7 ham on the bone

Christmas Day Community Lunch

* Doors open 11.30am, seated lunch from 12pm.

* Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre, Fenton St.

* Register at the Citizens Advice Bureau at Community House, 1115 Haupapa St, St Johns
Church, cnr Ranolf and Victoria streets, the Sir Howard Morrison Performing Arts Centre or call 0271 626 096.

* Free, all welcome.