Where to find free meals in Thunder Bay, Ont., this holiday season

With the holiday season fast approaching, plenty of people are making a list and checking it twice. But for many in Thunder Bay, Ont., a hot meal is their number one concern of the season.

Several local groups are addressing that by offering free meals to those in need. 

Here’s a list of organizations in the Thunder Bay area that are opening their doors to ensure people can find a free meal this Christmas season:

Gary Ferguson, executive director at the Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre in Thunder Bay, says that in addition to its soup van, his organization serves up to 86 individuals in its shelter three meals a day.

“In the winter months … we're doing roughly 250 meals a day, give or take, in the shelter, and then another 100 soup portions that we give out in our soup van daily,” Ferguson told CBC Thunder Bay.

People who go to the soup van receive a hot soup, and Ferguson said they sometimes serve sandwiches or a pastry. They also give out clothing to help people stay warm.

The Salvation Army will be taking its soup van out on Christmas Day, Ferguson said.

“They will be distributing hot turkey meals [including] turkey stuffing, vegetables, mashed potatoes, gravy, some sweets as well, too, and we're going to be giving out some small gifts to the individuals that access that. We've prepared for probably 300 meals that we'll do that night,” he said. 

Ferguson said he and his employees have been going out on Christmas Day for the last three years to distribute meals.

“We do Christmas caroling, so we sing, we have hot chocolate, we have different items that we give — hot apple cider. And we're out there working with the people, talking to the people. We're probably done by about 5 p.m. and we all head home to our meals.”