The Colonel Cooks for Christmas

December 19th, 2010…The Salvation Army and Kentucky Fried Chicken celebrated the 10th Annual KFC Christmas Dinner at The Salvation Army’s St. John’s Temple with over 500 hungry souls in attendance. The 10 year partnership between The Salvation Army and local KFC outlets has been able to provide a Christmas Night to remember for thousands of Newfoundlanders. Guests are driven to the Dinner Venue by a Salvation Army Volunteer Driver…then entertained by Musicians and a Visit from the Jolly Old Elf Himself before they sit down to a 2-3 piece chicken dinner with all the trimmings.

This year St. John’s Temple saw 2 seatings of 250 Friends each. Children get a chance to sit on Santa’s knee and whisper what they would like for Christmas before getting their picture taken. In the background one could hear the Rock Band “KORBAN”‘s rollicking rhythmic renditions of all the Christmas Favorites from Frosty the Snowman to Silent Night.

David Hefferman, Owner of Chelsea Foods said, “We at KFC value the Partnership with The Salvation Army because The Salvation Army serves without discrimination. Everyone is equal here!”

One volunteer driver had a very interesting conversation with the family that he transported to the KFC Christmas Dinner. The mother of the two young boys that were enjoying the drive past the Festively Lit Confederation Building when the mother exclaimed, “Thank you for coming this way. My children have never seen the Christmas lights before! We have no transportation and live in government housing so we cannot get out to see the sights of Christmas…So…Thank you for driving us past the Christmas Lights!!”

Operations Manager Mr. Jim Cornelisse stated, “This event makes our Christmas…all of the KFC Volunteers and Staff…this makes our Christmas!”

“The Salvation Army highly values the Partnership with KFC in providing for such an event as this. I would venture to say that this event “makes” Christmas for a lot of other people as well!!” , said Major Donette Percy, Director of Community & Family Services for the City of St. John’s.

Local KFC Staff and Volunteers, Mr. David Hefferman (6th from left), Mr. Jim Cornelisse (Seated), Major Donette Percy (Seated Right)

Other Sponsors included:

Bill Matthew’s VW Audi, Avalon Ford, Terra Nova Motors, Marie’s Mini Mart, City Honda, NL Credit Union and Country Ribbon.

Thank You To Everyone who made this Night Possible!!!!