As rain battered VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 streets on Tuesday, hundreds gathered on Pandora Avenue to enjoy a hot, hearty holiday meal.
Organized by Our Place Society B次元官网网址� a non-profit that offers food, counselling, housing and recovery services to people struggling with mental health and substance use issues in Greater Victoria B次元官网网址� the free lunch provided folks in need with turkey, stuffing, veggies, hot coffee and pumpkin pie.
Community leaders, including Saanich Mayor Dean Murdock, served heaping portions to the event's 600 attendees. Behind them, a large crew of kitchen volunteers worked tirelessly, sauteing vegetables, carving turkeys and preparing pies.
B次元官网网址淥ur goal is for anyone to come in here, get a meal, meet with our outreach providers,B次元官网网址� said Janice Kalin, Our Place SocietyB次元官网网址檚 director of philanthropy. B次元官网网址淲e can help them on that pathway into wellness, so either getting them into housing or getting them into addiction recovery.B次元官网网址�
Recently, Our Place has seen a rise in demand for the nosh it serves, despite plating a whopping 1,400 meals every day.
B次元官网网址淛ust over the past three months, it's gone up by over 25 per cent. Several other food services have closed down within the downtown core. A lot of those folks are coming here,B次元官网网址� said Kalin. B次元官网网址淎s well, the cost of living is going up so dramatically.B次元官网网址�
In addition to often much-needed calories, events like this one also provide a connection to those who need it most.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a community,B次元官网网址� said Kalin. B次元官网网址淪ocial isolation, especially for our seniors, is a huge problem. WeB次元官网网址檝e seen, over about the last year, a huge increase in the number of seniors who are starting to access our care and our supports here.B次元官网网址�
Paul Fenje, one of the event's attendees, expressed a similar sentiment.
B次元官网网址淕enerally speaking, of the attendees here B次元官网网址� whether they have addiction issues of different kinds, whether they have mental health issues B次元官网网址� many, if not most, are estranged from families,B次元官网网址� he said. "This kind of a gathering serves to consolidate people, so they're not eating ... individually but as one large, happy family.B次元官网网址�
Our Place is set to host a second holiday meal on Dec. 20 from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
