Union Gospel Mission starts weekend-long prep for annual Thanksgiving meal UGM prepares for annual Thanksgiving meal

2,200 pounds of turkey, 800 pounds of mashed potatoes, 500 pies, and more: that’s what Union Gospel Mission (UGM) is preparing for a massive Thanksgiving lunch at their Downtown Eastside (DTES) and New Westminster locations, free of charge for those who attend.

Volunteers were busy carving up turkeys early Saturday morning — part of the weekend-long preparation — to feed the 3,000 people expected to participate in this year’s meal Monday.

UGM spokesperson Sarah Chew says this annual meal helps bring together the most vulnerable people in the city and creates a network of support and, more importantly, hope.

“Thanksgiving can be a loaded holiday for people who may think they don’t have a lot to be thankful for,” Chew said.

“A lot of people we get to serve go through things like homelessness, poverty, and addiction. And in those experiences, it can be very isolating.”

UGM depends on donors and volunteers to provide meals like this to the community. Jean Lewis is one of those volunteers, and she says the work the organization is doing is needed now more than ever.

“There is such great need in Vancouver and the DTES,” Lewis said.

“I grew up in Vancouver and the situation in the Downtown Eastside is getting worse. It is not getting better. And organizations such as UGM are stepping up and meeting people where they are and filling those needs, and there is nothing more practical that you can do for someone than to feed them.”

UGM encourages anyone who is in need to join them for their Thanksgiving meal on Monday.

Doors open at UGM’s Vancouver location (601 East Hastings Street) at 10:30. The New Westminster location’s (658 Clarkson Street) has seatings starting at noon. There is also an event for women and children at the UGM Women and Families Centre at 616 East Cordova Street in Vancouver. Doors open at 10:45.