'Bringing back the spirit of Christmas' with second year of turkey dinner giveaways

For a second year, a man from the Greater Sudbury community of Chelmsford is continuing his efforts to help the less fortunate during the holidays.

JP Brosseau packs a turkey dinner and all the fixings for a Sudbury family in need. December 12, 2024 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario)

Some who were on the receiving end last year are now helping to pay it forward.

"I kind of just wanted to give back in the ways that I knew that I could," said Thea Lavorato.

"I'm in a better situation this year, so I was able to donate a little bit and offer a little bit of my time to give to some families."

This week, Lavorato picked up a meal package that she was planning on delivering to a local family she knows is in need this holiday season.

A year ago, Lavorato was on the receiving end of similar kindness.

During his inaugural giving initiative in 2023, J.P. 'Magoo' Brosseau was told that Lavorato and her family needed a bit of help.

She was provided with components of a turkey dinner and Brosseau also added a few small gifts for her children.

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When the idea first came to him last year, Brosseau said he had only meant to provide the ingredients for a turkey dinner for about 25 families.

For the second year JP Brosseau is giving free turkey dinners to people in need in Sudbury. December 12, 2024 (Angela Gemmill/CTV Northern Ontario)

But when news spread, donations poured in and he ended up handing out about 300 packages.

The same thing has happened again this year with about $7,000 in donations.

A local farm, Poulin Potatoes, came back onboard donating 180 bags of potatoes for the initiative.

Former recipients like Lavorato are passing on the kindness.

"She was struggling last year and she's in a better position this year and decided to pay it forward again this year. So, it was nice to see that people appreciate it," Brosseau said.

Brosseau has since named the initiative the 'Need to Feed.'

"I know that there are a lot of families throughout the Sudbury area that struggle just as much, if not more than I did," Lavorato said.

"So, what he's doing is bringing back the spirit of Christmas and hope that things can actually get better.”

Brosseau lost both his parents this year and had contemplated halting the giving campaign, but knew they were proud of his efforts to help others.

"I said,' Maybe doing this might actually help me as well.' So that's why I decided to do it," he said.

"And it was for the people too. I've seen them come and they were so emotional and appreciative for the meal."

As of Dec 11, Brosseau has handed out 150 meals.

His cutoff this year is December 23.

Given the ongoing support from friends and businesses, Brosseau said he will most certainly continue it again next year.