Milwaukee To Host US’ Largest Salvation Army Christmas Dinner

Milwaukee will host the Salvation Army’s largest Christmas dinner in the country this Sunday. Between 8,000 and 10,000 people, including elected officials, are expected to show up for the meal.

Nina Johnson of Milwaukee is one of more than 1,500 volunteers who are helping set up, wrap toys and cook for the event.

She volunteered to help set up and said the meal is a good break from all the negative events that have recently happened in the city.

“There’s so many things that are going on in our city, specifically the Milwaukee market,” Johnson said. “To see that people have come together from all walks of life just to help impact a positive outcome, I’m going to cherish that.”

This year is Bob Ilk’s third time helping prepare the food, but his first as the head chef. He is in charge of instructing the volunteers on what to do.

“The volunteers are great,” Ilk said. “Many of them come from many different backgrounds. And the real challenge is I’m dealing with three different shifts, four hours each, and each time I start with a new shift, I have to retrain them.”

Despite the change in shifts, the meal wouldn’t be possible without volunteers because of the sheer amount of food, Ilk said.

“We have 2,100 pounds of ham and the turkeys turned out to be close to 2,000 pounds,” he said.

Ilk said he started cooking the 178 turkeys Thursday.

The dinner is in its 27th year and is, according to the Salvation Army, the organization’s largest in the United States.

Music will fill the hall, toys will be handed out while they stay in supply, and Santa will be making an appearance.

The dinner is open to anyone and will take place from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Wisconsin Center, 400 W. Wisconsin Ave.