OSHaRE Building Owen Sound (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
OSHaRE saw a large increase in the number of people using its services over the holiday season.
Executive Director Colleen Trask-Seaman says from Dec. 23 to 26, the organization served just under 1,500 meals to all ages.
“We have definitely as I have said before, have seen an increase this year over last year and so we were expecting our December numbers to be higher than the previous year,” says Trask-Seaman.
For the whole month of December, she says OSHaRE served 23,000 meals compared to the about 12,000 in 2023.
“This past year, we did serve over 212,000 meals, which last year was 146,000, so obviously that has been a huge increase,” says Trask-Seaman.
She says those who attended OSHaRE over the holiday expressed how thankful they were to be able to have a hot meal.
“We did dine in, we had special treats, we tried to make it the best Christmas that we could for all the guests who came,” says Trask-Seaman.
She does not foresee the need for their services decreasing anytime soon.