Community Christmas Day Dinner back on again in North Bay
Preparations are underway for the annual Community Christmas Day Dinner in North Bay.
A team of 50 volunteers and a few organizations work hard to feed those less fortunate and those who are alone during the holidays.
“Be there for the music. We have gifts and we try to put as much atmosphere as we can -- and some people even come and give us money for their meals," said dinner committee chair Sylvia Antinozzi.
The dinner will take place at Memorial Gardens on Dec. 25 for the second year in a row. Before the pandemic began, it was hosted at Pro-Cathedral of the Assumption church for 15 years. In total, the dinner has supported people for more than two decades.
“Christmastime is the most difficult time for people who don’t have money or people in their lives and we try to fulfil that as much as possible,” said Antinozzi.
Wanted to lend a hand
Except for the turkeys, most of the food will be prepared at The Gathering Place soup kitchen. The soup kitchen wanted to lend a hand last year and this year due to the ongoing health crisis.
“There are so many folks who are trying to make the Holidays as normal for their kids as possible,” said Dennis Chippa, executive director of The Gathering Place.
“So any way they can cut corners by getting an extra meal is a present for their kid.”
A number of organizations are stepping up to support the cause. The city is lending the hockey arena, and Rebuilt Resources and the North Bay Rotary Club are helping financially.
“We can donate money in order for the food to be bought. We’ve done this at least three years, if not four,” said rotary club president Robert Cunningham.
Maureen Brazeau from Rebuilt Resources presented a $3,000 cheque to help support the cause.
“Our mission is to stay local. Any of the money raised over and above what we need at Rebuilt Resources goes back into our community,” said Brazeau.
Last year the dinner served 600 meals. Between 50 and 60 people took time to sit inside and celebrate.
The committee said it wants to create a warm and joyful atmosphere for those who need their spirits lifted at this time of year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Person on fire outside Trump's hush money trial rushed away on a stretcher
A person who was on fire in a park outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump’s hush money trial is taking place has been rushed away on a stretcher.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Tropical fish stolen from Beachburg, Ont. restaurant found and returned
Ontario Provincial Police have landed a suspect following a fishy theft in Beachburg, Ont.
U.S. FAA launches investigation into unauthorized personnel in cockpit of Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto
The U.S.’s Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a video that appears to show unauthorized personnel in the cockpit of a charted Colorado Rockies flight to Toronto.