Ottawa Mission Serves An All-Time High 19,684 Thanksgiving Meals
12 October 2026
“People should not have to choose between paying their rent and feeding themselves and their families.”
Ottawa, ON – During The Ottawa Mission’s annual Thanksgiving meal, which was held on October 12th as well as the week prior to Thanksgiving through the shelter’s food truck program, The Mission served 19,684 meals – a new record for a special meal service.
“It takes 8,500 pounds of turkey to feed everyone during our special Thanksgiving dinner,” noted Chef Ric Watson, Director of Food Services at The Mission. Also on the menu was: 3500 lbs. of peeled potatoes; 2000 lbs. of glazed fresh carrots; 150 gallons of gravy; and 900 lentil loaves. “This Thanksgiving meal count is yet another example of the shocking level of hunger in our community.”
Prior to the pandemic, The Mission served 495,360 meals annually. This past fiscal year, it served an astounding 1,233,658 meals, a 249% increase and a new record for The Mission. “We continue to face an unprecedented need for food. Housing costs are a main driver of food insecurity. People should not have to choose between paying their rent and feeding themselves and their families.” Allen-Watson added.
This is why The Mission launched its food truck program in September 2020 with one truck and five stops serving 500 meals per week. It now has two trucks which deliver over 14,000 meals per week at 42 community partner locations. In fact, 2025/26 marked the first year that meals served from the shelter’s food trucks outstripped the meals served in its dining room. This program is supported entirely by donations.
“Years ago, only people who were homeless or at risk of homelessness would come to us for a Thanksgiving meal. Now, we see so many people who would never have come to us before now turning to us for help, including retirees and seniors, families, low and medium-income working people, people with disabilities, students, and others,” Ottawa Mission CEO Peter Tilley noted.
“Food insecurity has risen from one in seven to now one in four households. Poverty, homelessness and food insecurity are serious public health issues. We at The Ottawa Mission are doing our part to meet the unprecedented increases in hunger and keep vulnerable people healthy through our meal program. Now, our team of staff, volunteers and service partners supported by our donors are working harder than ever to meet the increasing need in our community. We need real solutions to end hunger in our community, including more affordable housing,” Tilley concluded.
About The Ottawa Mission
Since 1906, The Ottawa Mission has been serving those who are homeless, hungry and lost by providing food, clothing, shelter and skills. In 2025-2026, The Ottawa Mission provided emergency shelter to an average of 188 men every night and served an average of 3,352 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, PLEASE CONTACT:
Aileen Leo
Director of Communications
T 613.234.1144 x 305
C 613.712.3092
aleo@ottawamission.com