Kelowna's Gospel Mission volunteers Dennis and Jane Linden prepare food for the annual Christmas dinner.
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/ Kelowna's Gospel Mission
December 18, 2020 - 3:05 PM
Kelowna's Gospel Mission will still be hosting a Christmas dinner this year, but due to COVID-19 safety concerns, it won't be available to the general public.
To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the mission will not be open to the public for Christmas dinner this year, but the outreach team will be on the road handing out around 400 Christmas dinners to those in need, according to a media release. Some of the meals will go to partner agency shelters and transitional homes and some to people living rough.
The Gospel Mission will also serve meals to residents currently living at the 60-bed Leon Avenue shelter and 40-bed winter shelter at 550 Doyle Ave.
The homeless shelter expects to serve hundreds of traditional Christmas meals of turkey with stuffing, ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and pie topped with whipped cream.
READ MORE: Kelowna homeless shelter is building community while hunkered down during pandemic
“I’ve just passed the six-month mark of leading Kelowna’s Gospel Mission and have never known a time where we are not in crisis," executive director Carmen Rempel said in the release.
"We are coping with trying to help people find affordable housing, the opioid crisis and, of course, COVID-19. This Christmas it is more important than ever to give our residents the feeling of connection and family. We’re so grateful to our community for stepping up with donations to make sure that no one is missed."
The Gospel Mission’s needs extend beyond Christmas and any help is greatly appreciated. Contact Kelowna’s Gospel Mission through its website here to donate or give an in-kind gift.
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