Thousands of people from the Downtown Eastside are being treated to an Easter meal today.
Volunteers at the Union Gospel Mission at 601 Hastings spent all morning preparing a dinner for as many as three thousand people tonight.
On the menu are 3,000 pounds of ham, 900 pounds of scalloped potatoes, 675 apple pies and 270 litres of pineapple sauce.
It’s one of three big meals the Union Gospel Mission puts on each year, and senior chaplain Bruce Curtiss says it’s also an opportunity to do outreach.
“Everything we do is a draw for the community….but it’s bigger than that,” he says.
“We want to say come and enjoy excellence in food, but do you want recovery? Do you need housing? We want them to experience a better quality of life in the days to come.”
A separate meal area has also been set up for women and families.
“In the neighbourhood sometime women don’t feel safe, and they’d rather not go in a big co-ed lineup, especially if you’re a sex trade worker or you have your kids with you,” said Barbara Atkins, the manager of UGM’s women and family centre.
“Families really want and deserve an Easter meal as well, so we don’t want them waiting in a line.”
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