Firefighters team up with The Salvation Army for 28th annual thanksgiving dinner
The Thunder Bay Professional Fire Fighters Association (TBPFFA) will serve a communal meal of turkey and potatoes at The Salvation Army’s Journey to Life Centre at 545 Cumberland St. North this Sunday between noon and 2:00 p.m.
The firefighting association has participated in the tradition alongside The Salvation Army for 28 years. As well as serving the meal, off-duty firefighters also assist with preparing the food each year.
Kevin Anderson is with public relations for the TBPFFA. He says many firefighters bring their families to the Sunday meal, and some even bring their children to help out on Friday with peeling potatoes.
“They want to pass it on best they can, and support the community. It’s an easy ask and we get lots of volunteers,” Anderson says.
Anderson says the off-duty firefighters peel hundreds of pounds of potatoes to help take some work off the shoulders of those in The Salvation Army’s kitchen. Beyond serving the meal, they also help with the cleanup on Sunday.
“When we look at it, we have a lot of mental health and addiction aspects in the community, with poverty,” says Gary Ferguson, Executive Director for The Salvation Army Journey to Life Centre. “We’re grateful that we can actually help people at this time of year. It’s a celebration for us. But for many people that are without, it’s not a celebration. So we’re able to provide a good, nutritious meal for them for that day.”
Ferguson expects between 250 and 300 people to show up on Sunday.
“We have the aspect of fellowship, a little bit of camaraderie. People know each other. It’s a great feeling to help others and to see others enjoying a good meal at this time,” Ferguson says.
The Salvation Army reminds attendees that buses will run from City Hall and the Water St. Terminal beginning at 11:45 a.m. for those who need transportation.
