UGM dishes up thousands of Easter meals
Posted April 23, 2011 11:16 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Easter has come early on the Downtown Eastside. The Union Gospel Mission is hosting a holiday dinner for thousands of Vancouver’s homeless today.
The Mission just moved into a new building on East Hastings, and staff are dishing up 4,000 meals today.
The UGM’s Keela Keeping says that’s the most meals they’ve ever dished out.
“Previously, we’d serve about 3,000 meals and that was the maximum we could serve in our old facility because we could only do 100 people at a time. Now, we can serve 160 people at a time in the dining room alone.”
Keeping adds they’re also serving Easter dinner at their other locations in New Westminster and Mission.
“Holidays can be a difficult time for people who are homeless or in poverty. They’re just so excited to come and have a place to enjoy some good music, see some smiling faces, and eat a meal in a more dignified environment.”
The menu includes ham, scalloped potatoes, vegetables, and of course apple pie and ice cream.
