UGM kicks off Homelessness Action Week with all-day Thanksgiving Dinner served to thousands on the Downtown Eastside

VANCOUVER, Oct. 6, 2011 /CNW/ - Union Gospel Mission will kick off Homelessness Action Week by serving over 3,000 turkey meals on Thanksgiving Monday (Oct. 10) to those on the Downtown Eastside, as well as in New Westminster and Mission. The first Thanksgiving meal in the new facility will be celebrated as it's meant to be—with friends, live music and heaps of delicious food. Over 200 volunteers join UGM staff and donors to make this special meal possible.

New this year, ClearlyContacts.ca has generously volunteered to give reading glasses to those who can't afford them. Guests will have the opportunity to visit an optical station to see if they would benefit from the  glasses.

UGM Senior Chaplain Bruce Curtiss explains that the meal is about more than just providing physical sustenance: "For many of our guests, this is a special time to celebrate and give thanks for what they do have, which is often very little. Over and over, we've seen Thanksgiving leading to hope, and hope inspiring courage, and courage - with friends to stand alongside - leading to transformed lives."

The Meal

• 3,200 lbs of turkey (equivalent of 170 turkeys)
• 1,500 lbs of mashed potatoes
• 900 lbs of vegetables
• 900 lbs of stuffing
• 300 lbs of cranberry sauce
• 260 litres of gravy
• 4,000 dinner rolls
• 650 pumpkin pies
• 300 litres of ice cream

When: Monday October 10 (10:30 am - 4:00pm)
Location: 601 East Hastings, Vancouver

Homelessness Action Week:
UGM is part of the New Westminster Homelessness Coalition, which, every year raises public awareness of homelessness during HAW (nwhomeless.ca). On Oct. 12, as part of HAW, UGM is involved in Homelessness Connect, where those in need can access services from haircuts to medical services, massages to housing help—all at the same location. Funds raised during that week will support "I's on the Street," a nonprofit social enterprise that provides stepping stones for employment.

For further information:

Keela Keeping, [phone]; [e-mail] ; Twitter: @UGM