Bandera Family Christmas Dinner

The Bandera Family Christmas Dinner will be held for the 27th year on Sunday.  Bill Bandera is continuing the tradition his parents started in 1989 and that is to provide a full course Christmas dinner for people in the Triple Cities and surrounding communities.  Once again dinners will be served at both the American Legion Post 80 on Main Street in Binghamton and at the Boys and Girls Club of Western Broome in Endicott.  Meals will be served from noon to 3 PM at both locations.

Meals include turkey, stuffing, all the trimmings and dessert.

The dinners are provided free of charge for everyone regardless of financial need.  For some the dinner will be the only meal they will have on Christmas Day while others just want to spend part of Christmas with others.

Speaking with Roger Neel on Binghamton Now on News Radio 1290 WNBF Friday organizer Bill Bandera says they expect to serve over 3,200 meals.  The dinner has expanded over the years.  Originally started by Bandera's parents the dinner now has expanded to deliver meals to parts of five counties along with senior housing areas including Woodburn Court, Lincoln and 110 Chenango Place.

Bandera says over 150 volunteers help with the meal including delivery drivers, cooks and servers.  12 to 15 volunteers have been working for a number of days laying the ground work for the dinner.  Businesses and private citizens have made numerous contributions to help fund the meal.