SPRINGFIELD – The annual free community Christmas dinner would not be quite as merry or bright without Michael Yacovone and his DJ skills.
As people sat around tables enjoying plates of beef stroganoff, carrots and pie Thursday, Yacovone provided background music — spinning traditional Christmas tunes, some Spanish classics and anything anyone wanted to hear.
“I get a lot of requests,” he said, cueing up one of the crowd favorites, “Feliz Navidad,” which he called catchy and festive.
Keith Barnett, one of Yacovone’s fans, requested he play a few of his favorites from the rhythm and blues group “The Dells” and Ted Wizard Mills, lead singer with the soul group “Blue Magic.”
Barnett declared the dinner “delicious” and said he enjoyed the atmosphere and company. Barnett even left with a second plate for a neighbor who couldn’t make it to the dinner.
“I’m hoping to bring her something to eat. No one should go hungry in this day and age,” he said.
No one left this Christmas dinner hungry or empty-handed. This year, volunteers delivered at least 450 meals, mostly to older people who are homebound, and served up an estimated 100 dinners at the school on State Street, said Nicole Lussier, managing director of the Open Pantry.
The organization has been holding Christmas meals for at least 42 years. While the dinners started at a different location, they’ve been served at the school on State Street for decades, she said.
The dinner itself was cooked by Partner’s Restaurant, in Agawam. Every year, the Open Pantry tries to offer something a little different. It asks regular pantry diners what might appeal to them, said Stephen Penna, chairman of the organization’s board of trustees.
Everyone is welcome at the dinner and organizers try to make it as festive as possible. Along with the DJ, a Shriners clown also volunteered, telling jokes and making balloon animals for children.
Members of Trinity United Methodist Church provided diners with a gift bag that included a towel, washcloth and hygiene items, Lussier said.
While it takes a lot of effort to provide the dinner, there was no lack of volunteers willing to give up a few hours of their holiday to make it happier for others. That help also cuts costs for the pantry, which spends some $5,000 to serve up Christmas dinner, Penna said.
“I love to give back and I’m single, retired and life is good,” said Cynthia Starzyk, of Chicopee.
With few family members close by, Starzyk, a retired speech teacher for the Springfield Public Schools, said she enjoys helping out at the meals and also volunteers for Easter and Thanksgiving.
Edward Cohen
Volunteers, many wearing Santa hats or holiday sweaters, did everything from serving dinner and pouring drinks to clearing tables and greeting guests.
“I like the welcoming you get from the people,” said Juan Rodriguez Feyjoo, one of the diners. “It is warm and comforting and shows they care for the people on the street.”
He said the volunteers bring a positive vibe to the dinner.
Andrea Rosario came to the dinner with her mother, Rosa Merced, and her three children, aged 11, 4 and 2. Sometimes they serve as volunteers, but this year they sat down and ate, since there was already plenty of help available.
Merced said she knows a lot of homeless people who show up for the meals. When one such person came in, she hugged him and called him family.
She said she is part of a group of volunteers for the Action Commission who are working to open a desperately needed women’s shelter in Springfield. Their goal is to have the shelter in operation by June or July.
Edward Cohen
Yacovone, the day’s music-maker, grew up in Springfield but now lives in East Longmeadow. He said he started playing music at the annual Open Pantry Community Services Christmas dinner at least 35 years ago, after learning about the event through his father-in-law, a long-term volunteer.
Long after splitting with his wife, Yacovone continued volunteering, setting up his equipment and entertaining at the pantry’s Easter and Thanksgiving dinners, as well as the Christmas one held at the High School of Commerce.
“I like what I do, I really enjoy it,” he said. The Christmas meal is always the easiest, he said, because the playlist is obviously holiday music. Easter and Thanksgiving take little more thought and imagination.
His effort is always well-received. Yacovone said almost every year people sing along and get up and dance. At least one couple usually amazes other diners with their skills in salsa or ballroom dancing.
