Organizations in Thunder Bay, Ont., are preparing hundreds of free meals for Thanksgiving

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, organizations across Thunder Bay, Ont., have begun heating up their kitchens to make sure everyone has a place to spend the holiday.

Some of the events taking place over the weekend include:

Brendan Carlin, the executive director of Shelter House, said Thanksgiving, similarly to Christmas, is a traditionally important holiday. With this in mind, he said the organization has a great volunteer group, sponsored by Fort William Rotary, that comes every year to help out.

"Thanksgiving is a time when, in general, families around the country get together and usually have the traditional turkey meal," said Carlin. "We'd like to provide that to the people that use our services and anybody else who wants to come."

He added that the group plans to make 20 turkeys and serve about 300 people in the evening.

"Giving people food is important. You need food to survive, but also just to give them a sense of normalcy or even comfort," said Carlin.

"The people who use shelters and other services are in survival mode all the time, just constant stress, constant anguish. So, if we can give them half an hour to an hour of comfort food surrounded by people who are also in good spirits, then we want to do that."

Gary Ferguson, executive director of the Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre Thunder Bay, said the organization is anticipating between 275 and 300 individuals, but is prepared for more if necessary. This will be the 27th year the Salvation Army has partnered with the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association for the Thanksgiving dinner. 

"Though holidays are a special time and they're a celebration for many people, they can be a sad time for many, too, as well. Because with our economy, the things that are going on in our community, some people just don't have the funds to have that traditional dinner," said Ferguson.

"I know there are a lot of people who are struggling with getting adequate food, so that's something we're happy that we're able to do and we feel very honoured and privileged to work with the firefighters to do that."

Ferguson said it's important to recognize the impact of food insecurity beyond the holidays.

"If you're hungry, you can't achieve the other things that you want to do in life – and I think it's very important that people are well fed," said Ferguson. "Nutrition, health, it all goes together."

Bus service to the Salvation Army's meal will be available from both the City Hall and Water Street terminals at 11:30 a.m. Sunday morning.

Tori Wallace, associate pastor at Evangel Church, said it will be the 23rd year, minus one or two during the pandemic, they have held their international student Thanksgiving dinner.