NORWICH – For the first year Bandera Family & Community Alliance will expand its free Christmas dinner to the Norwich American Legion on Christmas day, offering a warm homemade meal and fellowship to anyone who needs it.

Since 1989 Bandera Family & Community Alliance has served a Christmas dinner in Binghamton, free and open to anyone in need of a meal or company for the holiday. This year it is expanding its offerings from Broome County to a location in Norwich, with free delivery options available as well as a sit-down location at American Legion Post 189 for residents of Chenango County.

"We want people to know we're there, they have someplace they can actually go to and have fellowship with other people, have a nice hot meal, and just enjoy the day should they not be able to afford it or they just don't want to be alone," said Bill Bandera, whose parents founded the Bandera Family & Community Alliance in 1989. "We'll provide them a nice place and make them feel like family."

Bandera said for the last five years, the free Christmas dinner has consistently served around 3,000 people, give or take a few hundred. When it began in 1989, it served 68 people; following the flood in 2011, it served about 4,300 meals to individuals on Christmas day. Last year it served meals at Binghamton American Legion Posts 80 and 89, the Endicott Boys and Girls Club, and various senior centers.

The alliance was founded by Bandera's parents, Bill and Carolyn, who were seeking a way to give back to the community. Bandera said when they founded it nearly 30 years ago, they probably didn't expect it would become the tradition it has become.