Giving to Support Those in Need This Thanksgiving
Help The Ottawa Mission Feed Hungry Community Members this Thanksgiving by Donating Frozen Turkeys
Ottawa, ON – As we head into the fall, planning is well underway for The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving Dinner at its shelter, which will take place on Monday, October 10th, and also from October 3 – 9 through its food truck program.
COVID-19 protocols keep shelter guests, community members, employees and volunteers safe while we continue to deliver essential support at the shelter. Accordingly, the meal for shelter guests will begin at 11:00 a.m. in The Mission dining room. The Thanksgiving meal for community members will also be available at the garage entrance beginning at 11:00 a.m. To continue to support vulnerable community members as much as possible, The Mission will also continue to provide two additional meals for community members to take with them. The Mission’s food truck program will also serve a full Thanksgiving meal to everyone who accesses this service the week prior to the October 10 meal.
On any given day, The Ottawa Mission serves over 3,000 meals to shelter residents and those in need in the community. This past Easter, with the addition of a second truck to our food truck program in response to shocking increases in hunger across Ottawa, the shelter quadrupled the number of meals it provides during special holidays from 2,500 to 10,084 meals. Due to the increasing incidence of hunger across our community, the shelter anticipates serving up to 12,000 meals this Thanksgiving.
“It will take about 6,000 pounds of turkey to feed everyone who comes to our special Thanksgiving dinner,” says Chef Ric Watson, Director of Food Services at The Mission. “Our kitchen volunteers and staff are working very hard to ensure that everyone will have a delicious turkey dinner by preparing for this very special event in advance.”
Also on the menu will be: 3000 lbs. peeled potatoes; 2000 lbs. glazed fresh carrots; 150 Gallons of gravy; and 900 vegetarian quiche.
Frozen turkey donations can be dropped off between 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. at the garage entrance to The Ottawa Mission at the corner of Waller and Besserer. Please ring the bell and a staff-person will arrive to receive your donation. Monetary donations to support the Thanksgiving meal are also appreciated and can be made at: https://ottawamission.com/donate/.
About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving the homeless, the hungry and the lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2019-2020, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 197 men every night and served an average of 1,422 meals every day. The Ottawa Mission also provides to men and women health services, mental health and addiction treatment programs, hospice care, dental services, housing services, educational support, job training, spiritual care, and clothing to thousands in need in our community. In September 2020, The Ottawa Mission marked the one millionth hour that the shelter has been in existence since its founding in 1906. In 2019, the Mission became a housing-focused shelter reflective of its commitment to a home for everyone as a human right with the launch of a new housing department.
FOR INFORMATION OR TO ARRANGE AN INTERVIEW PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T. 613.234.1144 x 305
C. 613-712-3092
E-mail: aleo@ottawamission.com