(OSHaRE In Owen Sound provides Thanksgiving meals over holiday weekend) Photo provided by Colleen Trask Seaman
OSHaRE in Owen Sound was able to provide over 990 meals over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
OSHaRE Executive Director Colleen Trask Seaman says, over the weekend they were able to provide residents with a variety of items, starting with a full takeout turkey Thanksgiving meal on Thursday.
Trask Seaman says on Saturday, Georgian Bay Honey provided some of their products for residents to take with them, and then on Monday, bags put together by the Girl Guides were handed out and featured personal hygiene products, candy and a happy Thanksgiving note.
“Our guests are always different. There is no registration, so anyone who needs food can show up,” says Trask Seaman.
Trask Seaman notes as they have been doing takeout for the past while, they were able to hand out pre-bagged meals and items to OSHaRE guests.
“They are pretty used to that because we have been doing that now for almost two years, coming up on March,” says Trask Seaman. “The meal is the same as what they could have got when they could have come in and dined, unfortunately we just have to give to them as takeout,” says Trask Seaman.
While Trask Seaman says she feels the holiday weekend went well, the need continues to grow as in September alone, they were able to serve over 11,000.
“It’s really nice to be able to do a nice Thanksgiving dinner for our guests, because we realize it is a hard holiday. So it is nice to be able to bring some joy,” says Trask Seaman.