Big Helpings of Hope : Across the county, meals and friendship awaited those needing a place to spend Christmas.

Zamora Rodriguez took his singing waiter act on the road Christmas Day. At the second annual Conejo Community Holiday Dinner, he exchanged the keyboard he usually plays at Cafe Bellissimo in Thousand Oaks for an acoustic guitar to croon Christmas carols at a free community meal.

“It’s an awesome feeling . . . doing things for others and not expecting things in return,” Rodriguez said.

Organizer Donn Delson said turnout at this year’s feast was expected to be double the 200 people who attended last year’s event.

The city of Thousand Oaks helped boost attendance by providing buses for seniors from Leisure Village in Camarillo. If community feedback is positive, Delson plans to put on more dinners during the year.

“We’re definitely going to do it for Christmas every year,” he said. “But I’d like to do it more than just once a year.”

Across Ventura County, Christmas dinners with all the fixings awaited those who needed a place to spend the holiday.

At Project Understanding’s Family to Family program in Ventura, organizers of a holiday dinner said they were prepared to feed 300 people.

“A lot of people have become good friends with us,” said Donna Mason, a volunteer with Ventura Missionary Church. “It isn’t just a matter of being here with strangers.”

At the Oxnard Rescue Mission, 138 people enjoyed a free Christmas meal of turkey, ham, vegetables and dessert. The meal was prepared by volunteers and organized by the Rev. Roosevelt Panthier of Tried Stone Church of God in Christ.

Panthier and his crew--who have organized meals at the mission for Thanksgiving, Easter and Christmas for the past three years--also delivered 117 meals to homebound people. Employees of Amgen and the state Compensation Insurance Fund contributed time and money to make the meal possible.

At three long, white tables, one shift of about 40 diners hunkered down over plates overflowing with food.

“Work is slow right now,” said Jimmy Ramos, a farm worker who was sharing the meal with his two children, his former wife and her two children. “It’s a great meal. It’s really wonderful.”

The holiday embodies a spirit of togetherness for all people, said Pablo Angel, who came to Thousand Oaks to share a meal with homeless friends at the Conejo dinner. “They don’t care what color--whether you are brown, black or white,” he said.

As an autistic person, Bruce Nanes’ attendance at the Conejo Valley Christmas dinner was more than a meal, it was a form of therapy, his therapist Les Robinson said. Autism makes it difficult for Nanes to communicate orally, but he is able to type poems, some of which have been published. Therapists try to take Nanes to social events whenever they can, Robinson said.

“Bruce has a low income,” Robinson said. “Any time we can get help it’s really good. The food’s really good too.”

For the volunteers who came out to help Christmas Day, the feeling of holiday warmth was mutual.

The Conejo Valley dinner brought together three Jewish congregations along with local churches. About 130 volunteers eagerly served those who attended, refilling drinks and serving extra helpings of turkey and mashed potatoes to the guests.

Although she is Jewish, 17-year-old Agoura High School senior Jamie Friedland gave her time at the Conejo dinner. She said the Christmas spirit is something everyone can share.

“It’s supposed to be a holiday of giving no matter what religion you are,” she said.

At the Oxnard mission, Darla Donahue had for years been planning to do some type of volunteer work at Christmas, but kept putting it off.

“I’m glad I did it this year,” she said. “You get as much out of it by giving as the people who eat here. It is very rewarding.”

As that meal was winding down, another family came to spread holiday cheer. Scott Harris, his wife Randi and their children, Samantha and Justin, arrived in a minivan filled with blankets, food and gifts. Harris said it was his children who chose to forgo their own Christmas tree in favor of the donation to needy families at the mission.

“We asked the kids if they would like to have a Christmas tree at home or give food and gifts to the shelter,” Harris said. “It is a good decision the kids made, and we are really pleased.”