A team of volunteers helped the Union Gospel Mission put on a tasty spread for Thanksgiving.
Dozens of volunteers served a turkey dinner with all the fixings to hundreds of people at the Union Gospel Mission on Thanksgiving Day. The dinner was the first event of Homelessness Action Week in New Westminster, which runs from Oct. 12 to 18 and focuses on providing support and services to people who are living in extreme poverty and homelessness.
On Tuesday, more than 20 organizations will join forces to provide one-on-one free services to homeless individuals at Connect Day and on Wednesday people will tour several of the local facilities helping to keep people off the streets.
Homelessness Action Week’s fundraising dinner takes place on Thursday, Oct. 16 at The Columbia Theatre. Tickets are $75 (with tax receipts being issued for a portion of the ticket price).
This year’s dinner features CBC radio personality Kathryn Gretsinger as MC, and guest speakers Joe Calendino, a former member of the Hells Angels and a recovery addict who runs gang and drug prevention programs for youth in vulnerable neighbourhoods, and Sgt. Toby Hinton, a member of the Vancouver Police Department and a founding member of Odd Squad Productions, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing drug education for youth, peer-to-peer training and film productions.
Full details about all of the events taking place during Homelessness Action Week are available at www.nwhomeless.ca.
