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Volunteers hoping to serve more than turkey on Thanksgiving in Vancouver

A good cider or local IPA will make all the difference when brining your turkey. Grace Clementine

The Union Gospel Mission (UGM) are getting their carving knives sharpened in anticipation for all of the birds that will be carved on Monday.

Spokesperson Jeremy Hunka said he wants people’s spirits to change this long weekend.

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Hosting friends and family this Thanksgiving without the commitment

“There’s a lot of people who don’t feel like they have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving, we want to change that.”

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The UGM is ready with more than 100 volunteers to help prepare 3,000 meals – which Hunka hopes sparks a change for some of the guests.

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“The meal can inspire miracles. It builds trust and opens the door to transformation in people’s lives,” Hunka said.

“I mean we’ll have thousands of people who are struggling with homelessness, poverty or addiction and when they come in, they’re cared for, they know that they can connect and maybe we’ll help them get into housing.”

The UGM has noticed many homeless people don’t realize all the group has to offer until they come in for a hot meal.

“It’s really the start of remarkable changes in people’s lives. Last year we helped find housing for more than 130 people, more than 60 people graduated from our alcohol and drug recovery programs and a lot of those people came to us at first for a meal.”

Anyone looking to volunteer with the UGM can send an e-mail to volunteers@ugm.ca.

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