Communities host Christmas meal and tree lighting Nov. 25

The local booster club, Helping Build Communities Stronger, and area businesses in Steen, Beaver Creek and Hills will sponsor their annual community meal and Santa Claus night Monday, Nov. 25.
The event will be from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hills American Legion Building where a variety of soups — bacon potato, chili, chicken noodle and vegetable — along with ham sandwiches will be served.
Santa Claus will be on hand for photographs from 6 to 7 p.m. for those who bring their own cameras.
Participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items for Project Love, a local organization that delivers food to new people in the community and to those with illness in their family or with financial needs and other challenges. 
 “The purpose of this event is to help promote community unity,” said Howie Vis, event organizer.
After the meal and Santa Claus, crowds will gather at the west side of Memorial Gardens for the lighting of the Unity Christmas Tree across the street from the Legion.
Pastor Maggie Berndt-Dreyer of Bethlehem Lutheran Church will deliver a message to the group on the meaning of the Christmas tree and will offer a prayer for communities, leaders, country and military followed by the lighting of the tree. 
“We are asking families and businesses to bring ornaments to place on the tree that evening,” Vis said.