OSHaRE (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
OSHaRE in Owen Sound is getting turkey meals ready for the Thanksgiving long weekend.
Executive Director Colleen Trask-Seaman says they will be offering holiday meals from Thursday to Monday.
She says on Thursday, OSHaRE will host its large turkey meal, with the leftovers being offered the next day with hot turkey sandwiches. Saturday will feature turkey shepherds pie, and the weekend will wrap up on Monday with another turkey meal.
All of the meals can be attended from noon to 1:30 p.m.
Trask-Seaman says she is not sure how many people will visit OSHaRE over the weekend as the need for their services has grown over recent years.
“In September, we served 20,000 meals in the month, which is the same that we served in the whole of 2019,” says Trask-Seaman. “Really unsure how many will be out for Thanksgiving this year, but that is why we are making sure we have lots of turkey so that we make sure everyone gets to have turkey in some form this weekend.”
She says the community support leading up to the weekend has been amazing with donations and volunteers helping prep the turkey.
“We are just so thankful for everyone who gives however they are able to give to help us,” says Trask-Seaman.
She says they have made sure to get enough turkey ready to provide a meal to anyone who shows up over the weekend.
“The reality is that holidays can be joyous in lots of families, but they can also be really difficult in families and for individuals. If we can provide a nice, hot turkey meal with a smile and just a pleasant hello, I think that it goes a long way to just support our community who may be find this time of year difficult,” says Trask-Seaman.