Our Place Society is serving Christmas dinner early this month to accommodate an increased demand for its services.
"This year, there has been a 25 per cent increase in people seeking respite from food insecurity at Our Place and we expect greater numbers at these meals than any year in our long history," said Our Place, a non-profit that works to tackle homelessness, mental health challenges and substance use issues in Greater Victoria, in a news release. "On top of increasing need, food costs have risen 28 per cent and the ongoing postal strike is putting pressure on the budget as many donors still rely on mail to provide support."
On Dec. 17, the organization will host a turkey-filled lunch from noon to 1 p.m. at the Our Place Community Centre, followed by Gordy Dodd’s annual Christmas dinner there on Dec. 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
In preparation for the holiday gathering, Our Place's kitchen team is busy roasting whole turkeys, mashing potatoes, thickening gravy, steaming vegetables and pieing pumpkins to feed as many as possible.
“Every meal is an opportunity to connect with someone and guide them to the next step on their journey to wellness. Together, we’re spreading hope, kindness, and joy to every corner of our community,” Janice Kalin, Our Place’s director of philanthropy, said in the same news release.
