How organizations serving Waterloo region's vulnerable communities are celebrating Christmas

With Christmas finally here, Waterloo region's organizations supporting the most vulnerable have been busy preparing meals to bring a sense of warmth and home to people on the holiday.

"It's equally important for everybody who may not be in a position to go home or be with their family to enjoy that Christmas dinner and have the opportunity to at least have it," Amy Cyr, chef and kitchen program coordinator for Tiny Home Takeout at St. Mary's Catholic Church, told CBC News.

Tiny Home Takeout serves calzones and a different meal every Tuesday to Saturday, known as the Daily Bite. Cyr said because Christmas is on a Monday this year, the group hosted a special turkey dinner on Saturday.

"[People] will get their turkey, cranberry sauce, their gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and they'll get a couple of cookies and bread," Cyr said.

Tiny Home Takeout is open for everyone, but their goal is to support people who are experiencing food insecurity in the community. Cyr said Saturday's event was also for families and people who don't want to be alone for the holidays.

There was music and Santa also made a stop to the Tiny Home Takeout on Saturday.

The Cambridge Shelter Corporation had several Christmas events last week for the men they support, like a Christmas dinner at the Cambridge Mill with the men receiving gift bags last Thursday.

But a special breakfast was planned for Christmas morning to give the men a sense of home.

Executive director Waynne Paddick said he and his wife, as well as other volunteers, come to the shelter Christmas morning to spend time with them and serve a traditional eggs and bacon breakfast.

He said staff and volunteers go above and beyond to make the morning special, since Christmas can be a hard time for some of the men staying at the shelter because many are away from their families.

"It's a nice breakfast for the guys so at least on Christmas morning, they get some sense of Christmas," Paddick said.

"Our drop in has a Christmas tree, our dining space is all decorated."

Over at The Working Centre's kitchen, chef Michael Bertling and volunteers have cooked and chopped hundreds of pounds of turkey, potatoes and bread last week for two Christmas meals.

Last Thursday, the centre served between 500 and 600 meals at a special Christmas dinner at St. John's Kitchen for the people staying at the Victoria Street encampment, or anyone who is living on the streets, Bertling said.