Sometimes, when she's out running errands, Helen Bechtold feels like a celebrity.

"It could be July and it's about 105 degrees outside, and people will see me on the street and they'll say, 'Hey! You're the Christmas lady!'" she said with a smile.

For the 36th year, Bechtold is organizing a free Christmas Day dinner for anyone age 55 or older. The meal will be available for pickup only at the Hambones Social Club of the Columbia Borough Fire Department, 726 Manor St., from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 25.

"We're going to have ham, turkey, filling, mashed potatoes, a vegetable, a roll and butter and a dessert," Bechtold said. "I wasn't sure we were going to be able to have turkey, because our volunteers are getting older and it's a job to cook and prepare the turkeys, but we found enough help to do it."

Along with the meal, each senior will receive a bag of food, much of which Bechtold purchases herself.

"If I see something I think a senior will like in their bag, I'll pick it up for them," she said. "I like to give them things they don't normally go out and buy."

Although she loves giving back, she noted that she's looking for community support of donations of gift cards, candy or other items for the bags.

"After the pandemic, we thought things would get easier, but it's really gotten harder for people," Bechtold said, noting that last year she served more than 100 meals. "We're asking the community for more help than ever because the cost of living keeps going up."

Bechtold is joined in her Christmas meal effort by Sis Luzader, who has been helping with the meals for 35 years.

Any senior is eligible to receive a meal and food bag, no matter their income or circumstances.

"This is not charity," Bechtold said. "This is not just for low-income people. This is strictly for people who will be alone on the holiday. Christmas is a special day, and seniors should not be alone. Even though they can't stay and eat there, they can come in and visit with us when they pick up their meal."

She emphasized that anyone who would like a meal should sign up for one. "I want to make sure no one is ashamed to call," she said.

Asked what keeps her going with the project year after year, Bechtold said she has a heart for seniors. She worked for Columbia Senior Center for more than 20 years, and when she retired, she wanted to continue serving seniors.

"I just get a kick out of it," she said. "I love to see their smiles."

Meals will be available by reservation only. To reserve a meal, call Bechtold at 717-604-4285 or Luzader at 717-475-2562 by Sunday, Dec. 17.