Skip to content

Salvation Army Christmas dinner serves record numbers

Hundreds enjoy annual tradition at Valhalla Inn

THUNDER BAY – Hundreds of volunteers worked to make sure no one went without a seasonal celebration at the Salvation Army’s 26th annual Christmas dinner Sunday afternoon.

With two full seatings in the Valhalla Inn ballroom, organizers estimated a record 600 people took part. In addition to a Christmas meal, children could pick out stuffed animals and have photos taken with Santa, while parents had the chance to select donated gifts for their children.

It’s a memorable experience for many attendees, according to Salvation Army Executive Director Major Lori Mitchell.

“We have people come who have said they’ve never been served a meal before,” she says. “So it’s very humbling for us who kind of take those things for granted.”

The event relies on the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and a number of organizations. The Valhalla Inn donates the food, while hotel and Salvation Army staff volunteer their time, along with dozens of community members. Organizations like the Thunder Bay Wellness Centre organized drives to donate toys, while the stuffed animals came courtesy of the Lakehead Thunderwolves’ Teddy Bear Toss.

Next door to the ballroom, parents could pick from hundreds of toys organized by age group. Candace Gagnon, browsing for items to give her three children on Christmas day, was amazed by the quality and variety on offer. She says the last few years have been challenging, and the event helped fill the gap at Christmas time.

“Sometimes you can’t get everything that you need,” she says. “To [be able to] pick gifts out is really the sweetest thing.”



Ian Kaufman

About the Author: Ian Kaufman

Read more


Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks