With a free holiday meal comes the realization that hope is not far away for struggling families in Oliver.
This year, Oliver Alliance Church is teaming up with the Oliver Fire Department to provide a traditional turkey dinner for people who may not be able to partake in one this season.
The event was held on Saturday, Dec. 18 from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
“Hopefully this free meal can give some hope and knowledge that there are people in our community who care,” said Oliver Alliance Church administrator Shiela Lange.
She acknowledged that lack of housing, high rental costs and rising food prices have put many individuals and families in a “very sad spot.”
Lange added that social isolation due to COVID has been very hard on people. And keeping in open communication with their church family has been a challenge.
“I am not an expert, but from what I see and the needs that I help with in my position here, there are more people that are homeless or on the verge of becoming so in our community.”
Due to COVID, the church was unable to host its holiday dinner at the community centre last year, so it purchased meal gift cards from restaurants and included those in the Knights of Columbus food hampers.
Up until last year, the church had served 300 to 350 meals at the community centre.
“This year we are still not able to do a sit-down event, but I reached out to the fire department and they are graciously letting us use the station for a drive-through event.”
Church members will be preparing and packaging the meals and then transporting them down to the fire hall for pickup.
The plan is to provide 300 individual turkey meals.
Lange said two local grocery stores and the bakery in town are donating some of the food and grocery cards, while Jose from Azores Catering is donating his time to cook the meals.
Rotary Club members will help transport the meals and are donating some oranges.
Lange said members of the fire department will provide traffic control. “It’s a truly community event aimed at those that may not be able to put together a turkey dinner of their own.”
Lange said people can drive or walk through the pickup line. She noted that sanitary and masking protocols will be followed.
Because of COVID, there will be no gift table this year.
Fire department spokesman Rob Graham said they are merely providing a space that allows a controlled area to hand out the dinners.
“We’re all about community, and if giving up our space so that those who cannot afford to, or have the time to do Christmas dinner can be taken care of, then we’re happy to do what we can.”
