Salvation Army to dish out up to 1,500 Christmas meals
Posted December 23, 2017 10:16 am.
Last Updated December 23, 2017 10:22 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you’ve ever hosted a Christmas dinner, you know how stressful it can be — now imagine doing it for up to 1,500 people.
More than 120 people are doing just that on Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside by donating their time at the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light facility on Cordova to help prepare for Monday’s meals.
“We have 400 of our own residents and then up to 1,200 people from the community that come down,” explains Executive Director Jim Coggles, who adds the guests come from far and wide for this special occasion.
“We did a mapping last year and determined that we have individuals and couples and even some families that come from all over Downtown Vancouver and from points as far out as New West and Surrey.”
He admits there is a lot of work to do between now and Monday.
“Yeah, turkeys starting to be prepared, Sunday there is a lot of set-up, potatoes to be peeled, just a whole lot of things going on.”
And putting on a meal this size doesn’t just require extra time and extra hands, but also a lot of extra groceries.
“600 pounds of turkey, 400 pounds plus of potatoes, 80 gallons of gravy, 120 pies,” Coggles says.
And everyone who attends leaves with a small gift bag as well.
“Socks and some goodies and toiletries and things…just a nice takeaway that we can give to folks coming to the door.”
The Christmas day meal will be served at the Salvation Army’s Harbour Light location on December 25th between 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
