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Family spends holiday serving meals at ECHO dinner

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The ECHO Christmas Dinner

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JANESVILLE — They wanted to teach their children a lesson about what it means to go without.

Instead, the kids ended up having a good time.

On Christmas, Angela and Chad Mould of Orfordville, their three children and Grandma and Grandpa Mould, spent the morning serving at the ECHO dinner at St. William school in Janesville.

It’s an annual event that brings together community members from all walks of life. This year, organizers expected to serve 600 meals. Most meals are served at the school, but a number of them are delivered to homebound people.

About 90 volunteers, including a team from Blackhawk Technical College’s culinary arts program, helped to make the dinner a success.

This was the second year the Mould family volunteered. They also ring bells for the Salvation Army and make cookies for the baskets ECHO hands out at special events.

“I thought it would be a great way to cure the ‘I want this and I want thats,’ ” said Angela Mould. “It didn’t work out the way I thought it would. They actually like to do it.”

Charysma, 8, was especially enthusiastic.

“I practice at home,” said Charysma, who was taking a break from serving to eat her meal—dessert first. “I just like to serve food to people.”

Charysma’s pink shoes could be seen dashing from table to table, delivering plates of food—and smiles—to her customers.

Dynally, 6, was dressed in a puffy pink dress, making her look like a cross between the cutest elf ever and a pink cupcake.

“I like to serve people pie,” she said between bites of stuffing.

They like ringing bells for the Salvation Army, too. Except that they refer to it as “singing” instead of bell ringing.

Their brother Trystyn, 12, worked with one of his grandparents or hung out with his dad.

Meanwhile, the kids’ grandparents, Larry and Linda Mould, circulated throughout the room with water and coffee, occasionally giving instructions to their grandkids.

“They have so much fun,” Linda Mould. “They’re going to make lots of memories.”