Kelowna’s Gospel Mission serving up Thanksgiving dinner with COVID-19 restrictions for a second year

Photo: Castanet Staff

It worked well last year, and they’re doing it again in 2021.

Kelowna’s Gospel Mission is doing a scaled-back version of its traditional, big Thanksgiving dinner on Monday.

“We’re still having a COVID-friendly Thanksgiving dinner that will be served at our shelters, be given out on our outreach trucks and will also be sent out in meals for different people in supportive housing units across town. So, it’s different than in years past when it’s a huge event with dozens of volunteers and it’s a big hubbub and the doors are wide open. Because of COVID it’s going to be smaller, with our few faithful volunteers ” said Carmen Rempel, executive director.

Those volunteers include Kelowna-Lake Country MP Tracy Gray, as well as MLA's Renee Merrifield and Norm Letnick.

The COVID-19 safety protocols include requiring the wearing of masks and gloves and limited seating.

The seating limit at the main shelter location on Leon Ave. is 60 people, 50 at the Doyle shelter, and about 80 people will be served on the streets by the outreach team. Another 80 clients get to-go orders or have their meals delivered to supportive housing units.

So, what goes into preparing Thanksgiving dinner for so many?

“If you were to go to the shelter today, it smells like turkey. They’ve been cooking the turkeys all week long. They cook them all and preserve them and save them and on the day-of, everything is heated back up again like any large catering event and served out for lunch and dinner,” said Rempel.

Rempel breaks down the numbers. “We have 30 turkeys, 16 hams, 250 pounds of potatoes, brought to you by Helen’s Acres Farm, 25 litres of gravy and 250 pieces of pie.”