Hot drinks, warm hearts, and lots and lots of singing is how organizers describe the Country CHRISTmas Caroling event that will be held in Cutler on Saturday.
The event, which is open to the public, will be held at the Cutler Community Center at 4550 Two Mile Run Road, and will feature musical presentations by the Decatur Chapel Choir and a sing-a-long.
"The idea was to have a good old country Christmas," said community center advocate Bruce Kelbaugh. "This is the time of year when we should stop and remember what we're here for and be thankful."
The community center opened about three years ago in the former Cutler Elementary School and it has been getting used nonstop ever since for the betterment of the community, according to Kelbaugh.
"We've been blessed out here and the community has been behind it 110 percent," he said.
Just a few of the activities taking place in the center on a regular basis are exercise classes, computer lab, God's Gang youth group, GED classes, a history series, craft shows, Third Sunday dinners and, most recently, the 3-C Food Pantry, which opened Nov. 30.
Fact Box
If you go
What: Country CHRISTmas Caroling.
When: 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday.
Where: Cutler Community Center, 4550 Two Mile Run Road.
Who: Public is invited; area churches and organizations will be singing carols. Hot drinks and cookies will be available.
Christmas gift exchange at the center
6 to 8 p.m., sponsored by the Muddobbers nonprofit social club.
Gifts will be passed out to 74 children in the community.
Santa and Mrs. Claus will be present.
Kelbaugh said the idea of gathering at the center to sing Christmas carols has been something in the works for a couple years. Working with the musical director Christian Lindsey and pastor Tim Lindsey at Decatur Chapel Church, they decided this year was as good as any to begin a new tradition.
"Whether we have a big crowd or not, this is something that will continue," Kelbaugh said. "Though at our Sunday dinners we usually have about 100 to 150 people."
The Decatur Chapel choir will anchor the event by performing first and then the crowd will be welcome to join in singing traditional Christmas carols.
Also Saturday evening there will be a Christmas gift exchange for children in the immediate community, according to Bev Hafer, a member of the Muddobbers, a nonprofit social club.
"We do this every year and this year we have about 74 children that we've bought for," she said. "Mom and dad usually sign the kids up."
Fundraisers are held throughout the year to help the group raise money for gifts.
The gift exchange will be from 6 to 8 p.m. in the center and special guests Santa and Mrs. Claus will be there as well.
