Nothing Other than Eating and Loving
Preparations for the 22nd annual N.O.E.L. Christmas Day
Dinner have begun. Once again, DeWees Hall at St. Paul’s
by – the- Sea will be cheerily decorated, the tables and
chairs ready, and the kitchen warm and toasty with the
smells of a sit down dinner for the entire community.
This Ocean City tradition is not only for those in
need. For many folks who do not have family near by,
this has become the place to be on Christmas day to
share a joy-filled celebration with friends and neighbors.
Thanks to musicians who volunteer their time and talent,
the hall is filled with Christmas music as a full Christmas
feast is enjoyed by all. Carry-out dinners are also
delivered to the local police, fire department and city
employees who work on Christmas day.
Children come to the dinner and happily receive a gift
given to them by Santa Claus and his elves. Additionally,
both adults and children are invited to take a hat, scarf
and/or gloves from the Giving Tree. These were
purchased or made by the parishioners of St. Paul’s bythe-
Sea and hung on the tree during Sunday services in
the weeks leading up to Christmas.
The N.O.E.L. Community is committed to providing an
enjoyable and positive outreach environment for those
we serve and those who serve. This work takes place
throughout the year, beginning with sit down
breakfast/brunches in January to use up the food
supplies left over from the Christmas Day Dinner. Then
every Saturday and several weekdays, the N.O.E.L.
volunteers provide a bagged lunch to the clients at
Shepherd’s Crook.
They also actively work with other local food pantries,
shelters, and social service groups to identify what is
most needed by the individuals and families they serve.
Your donations are used by our volunteers to purchase
and deliver these items. Tens of thousands of canned
goods, dry goods, fruits, desserts, toiletries, clothing,
paper products, cleaning supplies, baby products and
other items are donated to the local community thanks to
your generosity. When it was discovered that foster
children were moved into foster homes with their clothes
and belongings in plastic trash bags, N.O.E.L. purchased
suitcases and donated them to Worcester County.
All of this is accomplished by donations from both
organizations and private parties within the Ocean City
area. If you care to make a donation please make your
check payable to The Noel Community, and mail it to St.
Paul’s by-the-Sea at 302 North Baltimore Avenue,
Ocean City, MD 21842.