Nearly 200 share time, food and spirit at 10th annual event

By Kayla Heffner for Ashland.news

Over at First Presbyterian Church in Ashland on Saturday, people were busy breaking bread together at a free holiday party.

Southern Oregon Jobs With Justice (SOJWJ), Ashland Red Lions Club, and Mountain Meadows Community Foundation joined forces for the 10th annual party and community meal.

From 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, nearly 200 people attended the feast this year put on by husband and wife organizers Jason and Vanessa Houk. 

At the beginning of the event Jason could be seen smiling in a Santa hat dining with several other adults chatting at a round table covered in Christmas decor. 

The atmosphere was jovial as people loaded up their plates with food, sipped hot coffee or cocoa, or hugged an old friend. Kids could be seen playing outside on the jungle gym as moms huddled close, talking about how time flies when raising a family and how having a little extra help (especially around the holidays) makes things easier. 

It’s for deserving families like these and those who are less fortunate that the Houks started this event 10 years ago. 

Vanessa remembers going to court and seeing a woman getting a citation for stealing food. 

“What I saw was really life changing. I saw that people were charged with theft and had stolen food because they were hungry. There was this woman — and I still carry her in my heart and my head — she stood in front of the judge and said ‘I know what I did was wrong, but my kids and I were hungry,'” Vanessa said.

The woman couldn’t pay the fine and Vanessa felt horrible about the situation, so Vanessa started brainstorming about how to give back to the community. 

The Houks are no strangers when it comes to adversity. The couple lost their home during the Almeda Fire, which is why they focus on giving back to the community that helped them during their struggles.

“It’s really a chance for us to give back all the abundance that has been shown to us over the years and it’s a chance for us to get together with our community,” Jason said. “Especially during the holidays, a lot of folks are struggling, they may not have family or the resources, so we want to make sure that everybody has a place to celebrate this holiday season.”

Jason said he hopes events like this can ease the financial worries for individuals and families while also reminding everyone, “We’re all in this together.”

Outside at the entrance of the church, one staff volunteer was helping pour hot chocolate and tea as folks arrived.

“I’ve been here in Ashland for about a year now and I was really welcomed into the community, so I thought I’d do my part,” Conni said. “Yeah, everyone seems pretty happy to be here and share a meal together.” 

Aside from piping hot beverages making people warm, at donation tables inside winter clothes, jackets, scarfs, socks, and shoes were being picked out to keep people bundled up in the cold. A young mom with her baby grinned as she grabbed a few items. “It’s great for people who don’t always get to celebrate Christmas,” the mother said. 

Another staff volunteer spread holiday cheer by playing carols on the piano. During a quick break, Alice Mallory talked about what keeps her coming back year after year. 

“Well, for me this is the most inclusive thing I’ve ever witnessed. They invite the entire community, you have every walk of life here. You have people coming in off the streets, you have people who are housed, unhoused. It’s just an incredible experience this time of year, or any time of the year, but particularly now, when people are sharing joy,” Mallory said. 

Mallory has been visiting Ashland for the last 30 years from Southern California and has lived here the last 16 years. “No one is asked to bring anything but themselves, and yet people come forth with their food, with their joy, and that just keeps everyone coming back and brings in more [people] every year,” Mallory said.

There were puzzles, games, treats for pets, and toys for kids. The church donates the space every year and it is a grassroots, community driven event which has grown over the last decade.

Mallory has volunteered to help with the Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday meal at the Presbyterian church for the last five years. 

If kindness were a currency, the people in Ashland are certainly setting the gold standard.

For anyone interested, SOJWJ is asking for more volunteers who can help with their weekly meals scheduled throughout the rest of the year.  

Supplies in high demand currently are waterproof items such as clothing, tarps, and tents. These donations are needed as wet, rainy, cold weather looms in the forecasts ahead.

For more information, go to the SOJWJ website by clicking here.

Clothing and resources can be donated at the SOJWJ drop box at Pony Espresso Coffee House, 175 Lithia Way in Ashland.

Journalist Kayla Heffner lives in Ashland. Email her at [email protected].