POCATELLO — A new grassroots group is planning a free Christmas community potluck aimed at feeding the homeless and anyone struggling to put food on the table this holiday season.

The Pocatello Pirates will host the event from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 22, at the Glen Allen Project, 426 W. Lewis St., behind Lookout Point. The potluck will include a $5 entry chili cook-off from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., with the free dinner running from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

“We hold private potlucks once a month for the unhoused and anybody struggling to put meals on the table, but anybody is welcome,” said Star Fitch, an organizer with the Pocatello Pirates. “You can get a meal, no questions asked.”

All proceeds from the evening will go toward supplies for future potlucks. In addition to the chili, the menu will include salad, rolls, cornbread, Christmas cookies, pasta, tea and water.

Adding to the festivities, Fitch will appear in character as “Miss Pirate Santa, Queen Star,” a Christmas creation that is one part pirate and one part Santa Claus. A costumed Grinch will also be in attendance, cooking up a bit of Christmas chaos by attempting to steal the “roast beast.”

Local singer Lenet Neifert is scheduled to perform from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the potluck, with additional music before and after her live set.

The Pocatello Pirates will hand out jackets, mittens and toiletries during the potluck, along with sweatshirts that turn into stuffed animals for children in attendance.

“Come in, you get the item that you want and then you can take it home or just chill there for a minute and eat and on your way you go,” Fitch said.

Fitch said the purpose of the Pocatello Pirates is to exercise their right to feed the homeless through their message of compassion. She said that regardless of religious affiliation, age, skin color or sexual orientation, anyone can join the group.

“What we care about is helping the community as a whole and assisting some of our most vulnerable citizens in Pocatello,” Fitch said.

The Pocatello Pirates are also running a sock and cold weather gear drive until Dec. 26. Interested participants can drop off donations of new socks at Knotty Twist, Spectrum Residential Habilitation, Pocatello Gear Exchange and Kanda’s & Company.

“What we do with those is we make sure that the homeless get them,” Fitch said. “Because when you’re out on the street a lot and you’re walking around and you need to go to different appointments, things like that, or you’re just out on the street period, you go through a lot of socks.”

Fitch previously volunteered with another Pirate group in Reno, Nevada, and wanted to bring a similar blend of playful costuming and serious community care to Pocatello. She describes the Pocatello Pirates as a loose guild of like-minded people who volunteer their time to organize drives and support vulnerable neighbors.

“There’s stuff going on in our community, where people aren’t eating as good as they used to in this country, and it’s not just Pocatello, it’s all over the U.S.,” Fitch said. “I’ve faced homelessness. I faced it this year. I’ve been homeless before. I know what it’s like to not be able to have a meal every night.”

Beyond meeting basic needs and providing community resources, Fitch said the potlucks are about restoring a sense of dignity for homeless individuals.

“The biggest thing about our potluck is bringing back that feeling of humanity,” Fitch said. “A lot of times when you’re going through homelessness, you feel like nobody sees you. There’s a lot of help and resources out there, but you got to know how to work with those resources and to get the help. I know that there’s also a lot of people out there that work but still can’t afford to put food on the table, and you feel like you’re unseen. The biggest thing that the Pirates want people to know is we see you. We see you and we care.”

Anyone interested in volunteering or donating can contact the Pocatello Pirates via Facebook or email at thepocatellopirates@yahoo.com.