Thanksgiving dinner at Good Shepherd serves hundreds, but shelves need restocking

The Good Shepherd Venture Centre Market Place—Hamilton's most widely used emergency food program —is appealing for donations in order to continue to help people put food on their tables.

The appeal comes even as the centre provided a Thanksgiving meal for hundreds yesterday at its Mary Street centre.

From January to September, the emergency food program served 50,856 people, 20,099 of which were children under the age of 17. During this period, 3,322 families received infant supplies.

That number translates to about 120 households per a day says Good Shepherd Centre program director, Carmen Salciccioli.

We literally had to buy some tuna and peanut butter. Things were that low down in the marketplace.- Good Shepherd program director, Carmen Salciccioli

"We provide regularly five days worth of food for whatever size that household is," said Salciccioli.

The food bank says this time of year there's a large need for food donations.

According to Salciccioli, during the summer months the city gives them money to buy seasonal items, but once fall approaches and that stops, things slow down.

"We literally had to buy some tuna and peanut butter. Things were that low down in the marketplace," said Salciccioli.

The food bank is asking for donations and more specifically, protein items.

Salciccioli says that instead of being able to provide five days worth of food, it may have to resort to a lesser amount, something he doesn't want to see happen.

"Hopefully as a city with a huge heart, hopefully individuals will help us out for us to be able to provide, or continue to provide these items to the people that are looking for them," said Salciccioli.

Thanksgiving dinner

The Good Shepherd Centre on Mary Street provides hot meals for anyone in need as part of its programming throughout the year, but on Thanksgiving Monday, they try to make it extra special.

"A lot of it is about being with family and or friends," said Good Shepherd director of community relations and planning, Alan Whittle.

"For many people this is an opportunity for them to perhaps come out of their apartment where maybe they live by themselves and to share a meal with many other people in the community, and also know that the community has provided for them in a special way," said Whittle.

Just a smile on people's faces at the end of the day and know that they're going home with a full belly is what we're here for.- Matthew Bruzas, Thanksgiving head chef, the Good Shepherd Centre

Monday's head chef, Matthew Bruzas has spent the last ten years doing the dinner at the centre.

He said it took them two and a half weeks to prepare about 150 turkeys, 200 lbs of potatoes, 50 lbs of vegetables, and 100 lbs of stuffing.

They prepared for 500 people and were hoping to see at least 400.

"Just a smile on people's faces at the end of the day and know that they're going home with a full belly is what we're here for," said Bruzas.

Food bank donations needed

There is an urgent need for canned tuna and peanut butter. Other items include:

• Canned soup and stew.
• Canned beans.
• Canned vegetables and fruit.
• Canned pasta and sauce.
• Dry pasta.
• Pork and beans.
• Dry beans.
• Macaroni & cheese.
• Cereal.
• Pancake mix and syrup.
• Healthy snacks.
• Baby food.
• Baby formula.
• Hygiene products.

Donations can be dropped off at The Venture Centre, 155 Cannon Street East, Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.