Eight-year-old Christopher Deal knows how to play Santa Claus.
Dressed in a red sweat suit and a Christmas cap, he smiled broadly and handed out stockings full of Christmas treats to children at the Westminster soup kitchen yesterday.
"These kids don't have families with enough money to buy them presents," Christopher said. "I hope they will get more stuff at home, but I don't know if they will."
Christopher had come to the kitchen at the Church of the Brethren with his mother, Carol Deal. They and about 30 other members of Holy Spirit Lutheran Church in Eldersburg spent part of Christmas Eve feeding the needy a traditional turkey dinner.
The Eldersburg congregation has volunteered several times to serve the Saturday luncheon at the soup kitchen. When they learned no group was available to staff lunch on Christmas Eve, they immediately volunteered.
"Sometimes what we have to share is ourselves and our time," said Nancy Loy, who came to help with her two children. "We had a lot of other things to do today, but we decided those can wait. Our family will still have Christmas, but maybe these people won't."
Elaine Breeding, who had organized the dinner, said, "Planning this day kept me focused on the true meaning of Christmas. Everyone in our church was overwhelmed with the project."
The diners were likewise overwhelmed -- with the food and the service.
"These are the best mashed potatoes ever," said Elizabeth 7. "I asked for more."
Ann her 11-year-old sister, said the family had been to the soup kitchen many times, but "this was the best dinner we have ever had."
Church members had roasted and stuffed six large turkeys and also provided mashed potatoes, creamed vegetables and baked desserts. They also made 100 loaves of banana bread as gifts for the needy.
"It was like a curbside service this morning as we loaded our cars," Cheryl Williams said. "People kept driving into the church parking lot and handing us food to take to Westminster."
The volunteers arrived shortly before their guests and decorated the lunchroom with fresh greens, ornaments and candles. Across the kitchen, they hung a banner, which said, "Merry Christmas from your friends at Holy Spirit Lutheran Church.
By noon, about 70 diners had crowded into the lunchroom. Erin Heath played Christmas carols on the piano as the church members served their guests.
"Watch out behind you," said Virginia Clise. "The kids are carrying hot plates."
The people who regularly attend the soup kitchen are accustomed to cafeteria style. Yesterday the volunteers waited on them.
"Have you been served yet?" asked Faye Hanrahan, as she patted a man gently on the shoulder. "Can I get you a cup of coffee while you are waiting for dinner?"
Julia Loy, 11, said she liked being a waitress, although "it's sort of hard work and makes you tired." She had her 9-year-old brother Adam to help with the heavy lifting.
"And, we get the leftover cake," Adam said with a big grin.
Tricia Solomon said that when she volunteered, her children Brett and Kaitlyn Barrett asked to come along with her.
"They need to see people in need," Ms. Solomon said. "They get things so easily and often don't know what it means to go without."
Kaitlyn, 9, said she would rather be helping poor people than sitting home waiting for Christmas. "These people might not get any dinner tonight," Kaitlyn said.
Brett, 14, said, "Everybody was so polite and so appreciative. I would like to do this again."
If a dinner cooled, a guest had only to ask and steaming gravy was ladled from a nearby pot. Second helpings were only a nod away.
When Julia finished serving plates piled with turkey, dressing, and potatoes, she carried desserts around the room.
"Let's all give a hand to the church for all the good work they did today," Barbara Serghini, a diner, said. Her table broke into applause.
The volunteers planned for about 100 diners and finished serving with food to spare. Then they filled plates with leftovers for their departing guests.
As the cleanup crews were washing the last serving dishes, a family of three walked in timidly.
"Are we too late?" the father asked.
"You are late and everything is almost gone," said Bill Matthews, a diner, who chided the family gently. "You can have mine."
Mr. Matthews handed the family his bagful of leftovers. He said he wanted to play Santa Claus, too.
"They didn't have nothing to eat," he said. "I gave them something for Christmas. I told them it was a delicious meal, too."
Mel Frazier was the last diner and he lingered over his dinner. Occasionally he lifted his coffee cup to toast the volunteers.
"A nice meal like this would probably cost me $10," he said. "I couldn't afford to eat like I did today."