“I’m calling to ask you a favor because you’re a very important part of our holiday dinners. Many of us don’t see or even talk to each other except at the holidays, and you never know who’s really having a bad time with a terrible illness, a recent death, or some big financial problems. So these dinners can be very awkward. Since you’re such a consistent and important guest, I was hoping you might be able to greet people when they come in and help pull them out of their shell by asking them how they and their family are doing and finding out anything new that’s been going on with them.”
