Danny Berg Dinner Moves to Elks Lodge

The Christmas tradition in Great Falls will be served at the Elks Lodge while organizers seek volunteers and donations.

Updated on Nov. 9, 2026 in Philanthropy

Brick community hall exterior on a snowy street, with a shoveled walkway leading to a wooden door under bare winter trees. — Organizers of the Danny Berg Memorial Dinner, a Great Falls Christmas tradition for more than 30 years, will serve the meal at the Elks Lodge from noon to 3 p.m. this year. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Would you volunteer time or donate to a community Christmas dinner this year?

The Danny Berg Memorial Dinner, a Christmas tradition in Great Falls for more than 30 years, will be served at the Elks Lodge this Christmas from noon to 3 p.m. Organizers are seeking volunteers and financial donations to rebuild the dinner's network after changes among longtime supporters.

Why it matters

Changes among longtime organizers made the tradition harder to sustain, creating uncertainty about who would run the dinner. Organizers say they want it to continue for years to come.

The dinner has served more than 600 meals in a single year and has operated for more than three decades. Organizers have not stated how many volunteers or how much in donations they still need to run this year's dinner.

The players

Montana National Guard

The state's military reserve force has remained involved with the Danny Berg Memorial Dinner and has historically cooked more than 50 turkeys for it each year.

Wade Gehl

Gehl worked alongside Danny Berg until 2008 and continued supporting the Christmas tradition until his death in 2020.

The details

Organizers plan to offer meal pickup and delivery by reservation, with the dinner served from noon to 3 p.m. at the Elks Lodge. Wade Gehl worked alongside Danny Berg until 2008 and continued supporting the tradition until his death in 2020, and the Montana National Guard has remained involved with the dinner.

2008: Wade Gehl stopped working alongside Danny Berg.
2020: Wade Gehl died.
This Christmas (December 25, 2026): Dinner served at the Elks Lodge from noon to 3 p.m.

Legacy Holiday Tradition

The dinner's three-decade run, sustained by volunteers and Montana National Guard cooks, illustrates how small-city holiday meal programs depend on a few long-serving organizers. Its move to the Elks Lodge marks a shift as that founding network thins.

Residents who want to help can volunteer or donate to the Danny Berg Memorial Dinner, and those planning to attend can use the Elks Lodge location from noon to 3 p.m. on Christmas. Meal pickup and delivery are available by reservation.

The takeaway

Community meals like this depend on a small group of committed people, so donating time or money now can help keep the tradition running. Reserving a pickup or delivery in advance is the practical way to take part this Christmas.