Hungry times

Only eight days into the month, the Salvation Army soup van has already served 400 people and another 60 have used the organization’s food bank.

And with more than 300 people attending the Salvation Army’s Thanksgiving dinner last year, executive director Maj. Mervyn Halvorsen is expecting much higher numbers of people at the dinner table this Sunday.

"Times have been tough," he said. "Last year there was a big hit in the economy and it’s really starting to take hold and affect the people. We want to make sure they get a good Thanksgiving dinner."

So for the 13 year, the Salvation Army is joining forces with the Thunder Bay Professional Fire Fighters Association to serve a traditional Thanksgiving turkey dinner to anyone in need or feeling lonely this holiday Sunday.

"When people are being served their dinner, it’s nice just to see their smiling faces and knowing the children are being fed; they’re having a happy day and they’re gong away with a full belly," Halvorsen said.

The Fire Fighters Association supplies the funds for the dinner and about 20 to 30 firefighters and their families will help serve the food Sunday.

"That’s what Thanksgiving is all about," said Thunder Bay Fire Service Capt. John Doughty. "Thanksgiving is to help the community and help people that are in need. That’s part of what we like to do; it’s part of our culture as firefighters to help people."

The dinner begins at noon Sunday and runs until 3 p.m. at the Salvation Army Booth Centre at 545 Cumberland St. N. A shuttle service from the former Brodie Street bus terminal and the Water Street terminal will be available starting at 11:45 a.m.