While firefighters save lives everyday, they’re also saving Thanksgiving for some people in Thunder Bay.
For the past 14 years, the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association have been sponsoring a Thanksgiving meal at the Salvation Army. Firefighters and their families will then help prepare and serve the meal for up to 350 people. Firefighter Nathan Monk said it’s just one of the many things that the association does for people in need.
“This is just one of the things we like to do to give back to the communities,” Monk said Friday morning after carving some of the 20 turkeys ready for Sunday dinner.
The Salvation Army’s Gail Kromm said without the firefighters sponsorship, there would be no dinner at the Salvation Army on Sunday.
“I don’t know that we’d be able to do it otherwise. Without that support we wouldn’t be here,” Kromm said.
Monk said he and his fellow firefighters are just happy to do their part.
“It means a nice warm meal on a day that they might not be able to get that,” he said.
The number of people wanting a meal grew last year and Kromm said the Salvation Army doesn’t know how many people to prepare for. But with the firefighters $1,200 contribution, which includes turkey with all the trimmings and pie, everyone who wants a meal will get one.
“Hopefully that will be enough,” Kromm said.
The meal is open to any member of the public looking for a Thanksgiving meal from people in poverty to those who just want to spend the holiday with others. Doors open at 12 p.m. with dinner being served until 3 p.m. The Salvation Army is located at 545 Cumberland St. North.
