BELLE FOURCHE - In addition to spending the day responding to calls as the Belle Fourche ambulance director, Janie Stevens coordinated and put on the 25th Annual Belle Fourche Christmas Dinner.

"It's a banner year," Stevens said. "People are so generous in this community. The dinner grows every year."

The dinner, held every Christmas at Belle Fourche Community Hall, is unique in that it is open to anyone, Stevens said.

Those who are unable to leave their homes can have meals delivered by volunteers.

People who do not have family in the area, cannot afford a big Christmas meal or cannot travel because of weather have the dinner as another option.

"Just like last night," Stevens said. "You just never know what the weather will do and if you can go anywhere."

Despite icy conditions on Christmas Eve, the weather turned out to be sunny Christmas Day. Crowds still turned out to dine on turkey, ham, salads, rolls and desserts, all donated by citizens and businesses in the Belle Fourche area.

A lot of people just come for the social aspect.

"It's just really nice to get together with the community," Carmen Gomez of Belle Fourche said.

Gomez has attended the dinner the past two years, since she moved to the area.

Stevens has been involved in putting on the dinner each of its 25 years.

The idea came from a similar dinner that Pierre put on each year. Belle Fourche decided to give it a try.

"It's just kind of gotten bigger and bigger and bigger," Stevens said. "We feed more people every year."

She said she does not have trouble finding volunteers. Several members of her ambulance crew helped as well as some area law enforcement officers.

Even Stevens' son, Jon Stevens, comes to Belle Fourche every year from Kansas City, Mo., to help prepare the meal.

Stevens' husband, Kendall Stevens, played Santa's elf at the dinner and helped distribute gifts to children.

"We still can't talk him into wearing green tights," Janie Stevens said.

Stevens works to coordinate the volunteers and donors to the event. She said the first year she just helped out, but after that, she "sort of took over."

"Belle Fourche is blessed to have someone like Janie," said Alan Klitz, who was attending the dinner from Wyoming.

After eating, adults socialized while children visited with Santa, played by Roger Schiffner, and were given toys donated by citizens and businesses.

Madison Myers, 3, of Underwood, N.D., had one thing in mind as she anxiously waited in line to visit with Santa.

"I want make-up," she said with a big grin.

Madison and her mother, Rebecca Myers, were visiting family in Belle Fourche and attended the dinner with them.

As the dinner wrapped up about 2 p.m., Stevens had responded to two ambulance calls, both for minor health scares, and fed close to 500 people, residents of Belle Fourche and the surrounding area.

"This dinner is a lot of work but a lot of fun," Stevens said.

Contact Katie Brown at 394-8318 or katie.brown@rapidcityjournal.com