THUNDER BAY -- Overcrowding at their headquarters led to the Salvation Army relocating their annual Christmas dinner.
The organization hosted their annual feast at the Elim Community Church on Black Bay Road Sunday afternoon due to many of their common areas at their Cumberland Street building serving as space for overflow beds.
Salvation Army executive director Maj. Rob Kerr said the regular 17 emergency beds are nowhere near enough, with 30 to 40 people seeking shelter every night.
“We’ve ended up here because we’ve found our capacity at the centre is growing. We have men in various rooms that we would normally use for the dinner and toy room. We found it would be too disruptive to move the men out of those rooms,” he said.
“We have men sleeping on mats in both our chapel and our lounge.”
Despite the relocation, Kerr is expecting the turnout of this year’s dinner to exceed the 200 that were served last year. Organizers were preparing for between 250 to 300 people.
Those that attend are treated to a traditional holiday feast, along with an opportunity to visit with Santa Claus and select gifts for children that were collected during their annual Toys for Tots campaign.
The dinner was prepared and served by volunteers from the Valhalla Inn and their families, with about 100 people involved in the process.
Mary McLellan, hotel regional general manager, said the Valhalla has partnered with the Salvation Army for the dinner for the past 21 years.
“I think it’s a good collaborative relationship. We respect what they’re doing in the community and it’s helping everyone, whether it’s today or 10 years from now,” she said.
Daniel Nordstrom was a first year volunteer at the dinner after hearing about the experience from co-workers.
He said there is a strong sense of camaraderie as they give back to the community with Christmas less than two weeks away.
“It’s good to be part of this,” Nordstrom said.
“It’s really eye opening and makes you grateful for all the things you have. Just seeing all the kids in there, I had a different upbringing and was very lucky. It makes you very appreciative of your life.”
Shuttle buses were provided to allow people across the city to attend the dinner.
