family is labour enough, but imagine catering to guests whose exact numbers are unknown before they arrive, and many of whom will receive their invitations by "bush telegraph.'' That might be unnerving for some hosts, but it doesn't phase the Salvation Army one bit. In fact, the man in charge of this week's annual Christmas dinner, administrator Captain Max Barrett, was positively ebullient about the event.

And small wonder, because his behind-the-scenes team included chefs and staff from the Henry VIII restaurant, as well as experienced volunteer helpers. As a result, he knew the whole operation would run like clockwork - just as it did last year.

"We are really excited about it,'' he said on the eve of the dinner.

Specifically, Monday night's dinner at the Citadel on Court Street was the brainchild of Mr. Andy Allan, president of Longbotham Boat Co. Ltd., the company which owns the Henry VIII, and is the second year in succession the restaurateur has underwritten a full Christmas dinner for Bermuda's homeless and street people.

"Mr. Allan came to us last year and said he wanted to do something like this, and it was a great success,'' Captain Barrett related. "He approached us again this year and repeated his offer.'' Thus, 163 people sat down to a full Christmas dinner with all the trimmings in the company of Premier Sir John Swan and Lady Swan, the Minister of Social Services, the Hon. Quinton Edness, and Mrs. Edness, and Senator Norma Astwood.

"The meal began with Bermuda fish chowder, and our guests went on to enjoy turkey, ham, fresh vegetables, apple crumble, tea and coffee,'' Major Barrett related.

All of the food was prepared and cooked in the Henry VIII kitchens and delivered hot and ready to serve to the Citadel. Staff at the Southampton restaurant worked overtime to ensure that everything was ready on schedule -- and lavished the same meticulous care and attention they would give to meals for their paying patrons.

"Mr. Allan said he wanted to do everything to be done in the same way it would be done at his restaurant,'' Captain Barrett said. "And the staff did a fantastic job. They really excelled themselves. There was so much food that everyone could have seconds, and the rest was plated up and distributed to folks on Court Street.'' Soft drinks firm John Barritt & Son Ltd. donated the ingredients for a non-alcoholic punch.

In addition to a first class meal, the guests dined by candlelight at beautifully set trestle tables, with a decorated Christmas tree in the background. While they ate, a children's choir from the United States Naval Air Station sang carols.

As with any Christmas dinner, it was the extra touches which made it special, and again Captain Barrett had cause to rejoice.

Not only were there the fine people who volunteered their services to wait on tables and otherwise make the guests feel welcome, but businessman Mr. Simon Rennick of Southampton Metals Ltd. went the extra mile and arranged a special treat for each of the diners.

"He went to the merchants of Hamilton and was responsible for getting really nice gifts donated,'' the delighted Captain explained. "I am talking about good sweaters, shirts, T-shirts, socks, pyjamas and packages of toiletries: toothpaste, soap, deodorant, and so forth. He also collected candy bars, peanuts and fruit -- all on his own bat.'' Such was the merchants' generosity, in fact, that the Captain and his wife happily spent a whole day wrapping the gifts.

"Although the Salvation Army sponsored the dinner, it was the businessmen and women of Bermuda who backed us 100 per cent, and we are so very grateful. It seemed like everybody wanted to do something this year,'' Captain Barrett said.

Indeed, there is nothing like Christmas to generate compassion and a spirit of giving. Even in the midst of a recession, people like to remember those less fortunate than themselves. But what about the rest if the year? What happens to the beneficiaries then? In many cases they are forgotten until the festive season rolls around again.

But the Salvation Army never forgets. Its commitment to the street people and the homeless is a 365-day one. At its back of town shelters and the Harbour Light facility on King Street nourishing meals are served twice a day, every day.

"At the shelters we feed 65-80 people two meals a day. Last year we served 25,300 meals,'' Captain Barrett revealed. "Then we serve 12 regular clients at Harbour Light twice a day, plus 35-45 street people every evening.'' Obviously, that takes a great deal of money and food.

"This year, the Army has spent in excess of $35,000 on food at the housing complex alone and Harbour Light will be close to $30,000,'' Divisional Secretary, Major Gilbert St. Onge, revealed. "And that's not including Christmas.'' And "Christmas'' also means the distribution of food hampers, special treats for the hospitals, nursing homes and seniors' residences, as well as the Golden Milers' (seniors) big Christmas dinner.

"Everything we do is monetary,'' Major St. Onge explained, "but we get a lot of food products which are donated so that helps cut down on the actual financial outlay.'' In fact, the Army relies a great deal on the kindness of the business community throughout the year to ease its financial burden. Wholesalers, grocers, a fast food operation, and a bakery are among the regular contributors. In some cases, it is also a practical form of "recycling.'' Where dented cans are shunned by the buying public, they are welcomed by the Army.

Wholesalers also pass on to the Army dented canned goods, and other shipments of food which are deemed unsatisfactory for re-sale but still perfectly fit for human consumption.

Under its rules, a fast food operation does not serve chicken cooked the day before, so every morning at 8 a.m. the Army van stops by to pick up the surplus and freeze it. Once a week, its cooks turn the cherished poultry into a hearty soup, curry or casserole.

A small bakery is also very good about supplying bread and rolls, and even the occasional cake.

"We have to recognise that a person's basic right is to have a decent meal,'' Major St. Onge said. "If we did not have food donated to us our bills would be much, much higher -- $20,000 to $30,000 higher. So we are very, very grateful to the wholesalers, grocers and others for their assistance. In fact, we couldn't operate our programme without them.'' With the numbers of homeless and street people steadily growing, and another shelter scheduled to open, the Army's need for financial assistance from the public is greater than ever -- not just at Christmas but throughout the year.

Cheques should be made payable to the Salvation Army, and the mailing address is: P.O. Box HM412, Hamilton HMBX.

CHRISTMAS SERVICE -- Staff from the Henry VIII restaurant, (left to right) Kirsty Stewart, Edith Dolmo, Ian Thompson and Beth Shadlock, prepare to serve a traditional festive feast at the Salvation Army Citadel this week. One hundred and sixty-three of Bermuda's homeless and street people turned up for the gala event.

YULE LOVE IT! -- Salvation Army administrator, Captain Max Barrett, samples part of the Christmas dinner prepared by staff of the Henry VIII restaurant.

Looking on are Captain Barrett's wife, Mrs. Captain Linda Barrett (centre), and Henry VIII staffer, Miss Beth Shadlock.