For the last 40 years, the Seminole Rotary club has hosted the annual Earl Knowles Rotary Christmas Meal, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans were in jeopardy this holiday season.

“We understand the need of social distancing, the restrictions on large gatherings and the current mask mandates - but we also understand that for some, this is their only means of having a holiday meal on Christmas Day,” said Anthony Davidson, Rotary Club President.

“The Rotary motto of ‘Service Above Self’ reminds us to look for ways to help those in need within our community. So we’ve had to think outside the box this year to find a way to continue serving our annual holiday meal,” Davidson said.

In the current situation, the local Rotary Club decided to put their heads together (virtually) and devise a plan to continue their annual tradition.

“In doing our part to serve our community and to protect our own Rotary members, we will only be serving our holiday meal via deliveries and drivethru pickup orders,” said Davidson. “The Heritage House will not be open to the public and we will have a very small crew of essential workers working in shifts who will be masked and gloved for prepping, serving and/or delivering the holiday meals to either citizens’ cars or homes.”

The plan is to have citizens who normally come and eat the holiday meal in person pick their meals up “drive-thru” style and return to the safety of their own homes to enjoy. The address for pickup is 210 W. College in Seminole. Meals will be prepared for pickup starting at 11 a.m. and going until 1 p.m., or until meals run out.

The Rotary Club asks citizens picking up their meals to enter the parking lot through the eastern-most driveway and circle around to the door. Along the route, a Rotary member will “take your order” and radio it into another member waiting inside. Workers will be ready to fill and have the order available for pickup once the car reaches the the “meal order” will be delivered to the car door.

Those citizens who are unable to make it to the Heritage House are asked to call the Seminole Chamber of Commerce office prior to Christmas Day to place their meal order for delivery on Christmas morning. The number to call in advance is 405-382-3640. If after business hours, callers are asked to leave the name, address for delivery and number of meals.

“Because we expect deliveries to be higher than normal this year, we are limiting delivery orders to six per address in order to help our delivery crews manage the demand,” said Davidson.

Sponsoring the fullcourse community Christmas luncheon is one of the Seminole Rotary Club’s major activities of the year. This is the 41st year for the event. The dinner carries the name of former Rotarian Earl Knowles, a Seminole businessman and enthusiastic booster of the event, who was killed in an automobile accident following the first dinner.

In addition to raising funds for the food, members of Rotary assist with the preparation for the service of the food and make the home deliveries.

For more information about the Rotary Christmas Dinner contact a member of the Seminole Rotary Club, or visit the Seminole Rotary Club Facebook page.