THUNDER BAY - For those who work on the front lines and assist some of the most vulnerable people in the city, this is the time of year when they give back by leaving their boots, helmets, hoses, and axes back at the station and pick up spoons, ladles, and plates to serve up a delicious home cooked meal.
Members of Thunder Bay Fire Rescue served up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday at the Salvation Army. Kevin Anderson, public relations coordinator with the Thunder Bay Professional Firefighters Association, said the association has been participating in this annual dinner for the past 20 years and it is their way of giving back to the community they serve.
“We’re on the front lines every day and we see the need in the community for people who otherwise wouldn’t have an opportunity to have a Thanksgiving dinner,” he said. “So we serve a traditional one and anybody can come out who may not be able to afford it or may not have anywhere else to go.”
With more than 300 people expected to come through the doors, Anderson said there is a lot of work that goes into getting a meal ready for that many people.
“We always start on Friday before and peel five or six huge bags of potatoes,” he said. “That’s the biggest prep work. They have staff here that prepare the turkeys and stuff and we mash the potatoes and serve it to everybody and then help clean up.”
More than 20 firefighters and their friends and families were helping out on Sunday, serving up turkey, potatoes and gravy, stuffing, vegetables, and pumpkin pie.
Major Lori Mitchelle, executive director at Salvation Army Community and Residential Services, said having the firefighters and their families volunteer makes a huge difference for the organization and the people it serves.
“It is a great deal of work to put together a dinner for 300 people,” she said. “They come and do all the prep work and do all the serving. Our staff are doing it every day, not for 300 people, but we are serving people every day and it’s a real opportunity for other people to give back. This is the firefighter’s way of giving back to the community.”
The dinner is meant for anyone who may not have the means to prepare a traditional Thanksgiving dinner or may not have anyone to spend the day with. Mitchell added anytime you bring people together it helps build a stronger community. And while this is a time of year to be thankful for what you have, it’s important to remember those who may not have as much as others, but still deserve to feel blessed.
“Thanksgiving is a time we think about all the things we have and all of our blessings,” Mitchell said. “If we have the opportunity to give some of that back and support others in the community who don’t have as much, it makes us feel good, but it is also really good for those people and the community and bringing us all together.”
Anderson and Mitchell said everyone who comes through the door and leaves with a full stomach really appreciates all the hard work and the dedication of the staff and volunteers.
“They really enjoy it,” Anderson said. “You can’t not love turkey and potatoes and all that good stuff.”
