THUNDER BAY - Staff and volunteers with the Salvation Army are making sure that no is alone and no stomach is empty this Thanksgiving weekend.
On Sunday, members of the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighter’s Association hung up their helmets and boots and tied aprons around their waists to serve a Thanksgiving dinner at the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street.
“Everybody deserves to have a nice Thanksgiving dinner so this is a way for us to give back,” said Kevin Anderson with the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighter’s Association. “Our members come on their days off and we help prep and cook and serve and clean up.”
There were more than 30 volunteers from the Firefighter’s Association, along with their family and friends, serving a traditional Thanksgiving meal including turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, and of course, pumpkin pie.
“I think it’s important to let people know that everyone is cared for in this city and those of us that do have are willing to share what we have,” said Gail Kromm, community engagement manager for the Salvation Army.
All the food is provided by the Firefighter’s Association and prepped and prepared by volunteers.
“We probably couldn’t do it without them,” Kromm said. “They cover the cost for the whole meal and the wonderful group of volunteers helping to prepare it and serve it makes it all possible.”
More than 300 people came throughout the afternoon for the hearty dinner. Anderson said that no one was turned away at the door, because while it is important to help those less fortunate, it’s also about creating a welcoming and warm community.
“Some people, maybe they just don’t have anywhere else to go,” he said. “Maybe they have a house, but don’t have a family, so they can come out and have a nice dinner as well. We welcome anybody who wants to come.”
“There’s a lot of people who don’t have the means to cook a meal for themselves or they are just alone and don’t want to cook a meal for one person and have it by yourself,” Kromm added. “It’s nice to be able to share some time with others and not be alone. That’s why we open the door to everybody.”
Kromm said that it’s difficult to tell whether or not this time of year brings more people to Salvation Army because there is always a steady flow of people in need.
“We have been over utilized for about two years,” she said. “It stays steady but we’re always over capacity, so that hasn’t really changed with the time of year. It just seems to be a constant thing now.”
With the plates scraped clean and bellies full, Kromm and Anderson said that this is a time to be thankful, and everyone, at the tables or behind the counter, were very pleased to be part of the community.
“It’s a perfect time to reach out and show people that we care for them,” Kromm said.
