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Tuesday, January 6, 2009
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Easter meal helps hundreds |
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Written by Citizen staff
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Monday, 24 March 2008 |
Patrick Pocha dishes up a plate to deliver at the annual St. Vincent de Paul Easter dinner. Pocha has been volunteering at the event for 21 years and always gets to serve the same table. (Citizen photo by Brent Braaten)
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The 800 clients was more than usual for an Easter sitting at the downtown meal service (between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Sunday), but it had nothing to do with the placement of Easter earlier on the calendar, just which week upon which it landed.
"Because it was a five-week welfare cycle people really were without their resources and it taxes our service a lot more," said St. Vincent spokeswoman Bernie Goold. "Their last cheque was Feb. 23 and they won't get another one until this Wednesday so it was busy mainly because of that."
Nonetheless, St. Vincent was prepared. That, said Goold, is because the community was prepared.
"It really is incredible the generosity of those who donated towards the dinner and all those who came out to help prepare and serve the dinner. It really went like clockwork," she said.
The CNC Culinary Arts program "played a pivotal role" in the meal preparation, as did many other local volunteers.
"One lady and her friend, just the two of them, made 300 extra-large cookies shaped like Easter eggs and decorated like a work of art. It was a real labour of love," said Goold. "The public has never failed us. When we have needed it, they come through. We are only one of the charities this community supports, it really is incredible what this community does for people."
Goold said at Christmas time there is a certain sense of family that permeates everything at St. Vincent. Many of the clients are disconnected from family, some never had any to speak of, and that loss is felt. At Easter, the mood is more one of general gratitude and feeling good for the fellowship at the outskirts of spring.
"This makes their life feel special that they have a nice meal, a special occasion that people have really worked hard towards, and they know that, they know how the public has made that happen," Goold said. "Even today (Monday) at the drop-in centre people were still talking about it. We are privileged at the centre to put a small highlight into their lives. We don't alleviate their problems in life but we do give then something to lift their spirits and carry them forward. We are blessed to be able to serve good meals at our centre, and the role the community plays in our work is phenomenal."
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 08 October 2008 )
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