An army of volunteers were busy prepping, baking, and putting turkeys in the oven to feed an estimated 200 people a Thanksgiving meal at the Salvation Army Gateway of Hope Friday afternoon (Oct. 6).
This year, Jag鈥檚 Furniture sponsored the meal and a team of Envision Financial volunteers were back again serving the meal. This is on top of the regular volunteers at Gateway who help make and serve the daily meal offered at the homeless shelter.
鈥淚t鈥檚 festive and fun. I think a lot of people in the community look forward to our Thanksgiving meal,鈥� said Krista Hannan, fundraising co-ordinator with the Gateway of Hope.
Most who attend the meal are homeless or low income singles and couples, seniors and single moms, Hannan said.
One of the guests was 89-year-old Juanita, who often comes to the Gateway of Hope for meals.
She said she is 鈥渟o thankful for the Gateway of Hope鈥� and that the staff and volunteers are 鈥渁 real blessing to me.鈥�
Volunteer CJ Muralt has worked with the shelter for eight years, and says events like the Thanksgiving dinner are uplifting for her.
鈥淚 like coming here because I think the people are incredible, I think giving back to the community is heartwarming,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 blessed that I have three wonderful kids and I would like to show them that giving back to the community is the right thing to do in life, and it just makes me feel happy.鈥�
鈥� Video by Miranda Gathercole
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