Volunteers threw a massive dinner party on Christmas Day in Cloquet, for anyone who wanted to attend.

In total, more than 450 people enjoyed ham and meatballs, mashed potatoes, green beans, a roll and dessert Saturday, courtesy of the Carlton County Disabled American Veterans chapter, which organized and cooked the annual community meal this year.

Most of those diners ate at home after picking up meals to go. Volunteers delivered to the Cloquet senior high-rise apartments, workers at Community Memorial Hospital, and a very special World War II veteran and his wife in Esko.

"We had several l...