Shelters ready with Thanksgiving fare

Organizations look to provide a special meal for clients on holiday

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic looming in Toronto for a second Thanksgiving, local shelters and charities across the city are still working to provide unhoused and vulnerable people with a special holiday meal.

“There’s no way that I would want anybody to not spend Thanksgiving in a positive way,” said Idil Omar, community program co-ordinator at Salvation Army New Hope Leslieville on Leslie Street.

Not only will a catering company be serving the shelter’s 32 residents a Thanksgiving dinner on Monday, Omar has also ordered additional treats, like pecan pie and black forest cake, to make the holiday a little sweeter for those who live there.

Even though she has the holiday off, Omar will be celebrating Thanksgiving at the shelter, playing games and serving the special treats to residents.

“They’re very excited. They’re going to love it,” she said, noting only two people will be able to eat at each table in the common area to ensure physical distancing.

The shelter, including both residents and staff, are 90 per cent vaccinated. Without the pandemic, drop-in guests would also be welcome for a Thanksgiving meal, but the centre has had to halt the initiative this fall.

Margaret’s Drop-In on Dundas Street East will also be serving a turkey dinner with carrots, potatoes, stuffing and more on Monday, said Jeanne Smith, a kitchen helper.

Ten people are allowed to come inside to eat but once the drop-in hits capacity, meals will then be passed out outside.

COVID-19 has had a big impact on Margaret’s, according to Smith. A lot of regulars don’t come in anymore, she said.

Sistering, an agency for atrisk, socially isolated women and trans people who are homeless or precariously housed, is another space that will serve a hot Thanksgiving lunch to the 20 residents who live on-site — along with handing out meals to people from elsewhere.

On Monday from noon to 1:30 p.m., Sistering will serve the “whole shebang” including turkey, potatoes and stuffing.

“It’s an important part about feeding people in this neighbourhood because a lot of them are food challenged,” said Lesa Thorne, who works in the kitchen.

“I feel good about the fact that I’m able to provide some good food for people who are hungry,” she said. “But we do this everyday; this time it’s just a different meal.”