Thanksgiving meal at UGM aims to feed thousands amid fentanyl crisis

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VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – A Thanksgiving tradition on the Downtown Eastside will have a different focus tomorrow. The growing fentanyl crisis is casting a shadow over the annual turkey feast.

The Union Gospel Mission has been holding the annual meal 75 years and expects 3,000 people to turn out.

Jeremy Hunka with the UGM says there is a perfect storm on the Downtown Eastside right now. “Homelessness is at a 10-year-high. We have a fentanyl crisis that is claiming lives by the hundreds in British Columbia and an affordability crisis where vacancy rates are plummeting and rental rates are skyrocketing. We expected a busy, tough fall.”

Hunka notes the continuing drug overdoses are on a lot of people’s minds in the area. “People are fearful of fentanyl, let’s be honest. We are hoping that when the come to UGM on Thanksgiving they realize they have a lot to be thankful for, a lot to live for and we want to get them in the doors and get them connected to life-changing services as quickly as possible.”

He adds the goal is that some of those that come out tomorrow enter their recovery program and turn their lives around.

 

 

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