Steamboat Springs — Organizers with the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors’ annual Community Christmas Dinner are seeking more volunteers and hoping to spread the word about the free public event.

The dinner takes place from 2 to 6 p.m. Christmas Day at the Steamboat Springs Community Center, 1605 Lincoln Ave.

“We could use more volunteers, especially with some of the later times,” said Lorraine Morrison, chairperson for the event and a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Distinctive Properties.

Morrison is chairing the event for the second year in a row and said organizers think this is the 26th year the dinner has taken place.

Realtors across town are expected to volunteer and bring food to the event, and the Steamboat Smokehouse plans to smoke 25 turkeys for the dinner.

Some staple dishes will be brought, and others are cooking a variety of desserts and other sides, Morrison said.

She’s been email-blasting Realtors for a few weeks to get them excited to participate, and she expects about 80 volunteers, including Realtors and community members.

“We do get a little help from outside” the realty community, Morrison said.

The dinner served about 450 people last year, but more are expected this year as organizers have been working harder to publicize the event.

“It’s one of our big community giving events,” said Doug Labor, former chair of the Steamboat Springs Board of Realtors. “It’s extremely important, we feel, for the community. It’s a great event, and we enjoy being involved.”

Labor said he’s volunteered and helped organize the event on and off for at least the past 10 years.

“It’s so rewarding to see all of our members stepping up and helping,” Labor said.

Morrison said she hopes real estate brokers will come to the event dressed down to have a good time.

Live music will play through the dinner.

“It’s really a happy event; people are having fun. Volunteers are filling a need, and it’s a good feeling to help out,” Morrison said. “There is a large community of very generous Realtors in Steamboat Springs, and except for them, this dinner wouldn’t be possible.”

Families are welcome to attend, not just singles, and Morrison said often, diners also will take a turn behind the serving line.

Morrison said she’d welcome a community member who would want to come dressed as Santa to the event, too.

For more information or to volunteer or donate food for the event, call Morrison at 970-819-2115 or email lorraine.morrison@coldwellbanker.com.

To reach Teresa Ristow, call 970-871-4206, email tristow@SteamboatToday.com or follow her on Twitter @TeresaRistow