Salvation Army feast comforts Thunder Bay's less fortunate

About 200 people took part in a holiday tradition in Thunder Bay Sunday, when they attended the annual Christmas dinner at the Salvation Army on Cumberland Street.

It was the 20th year for the event, which is sponsored by the Valhalla Inn.

Ten-year-old Abi Stevens-DeCorte volunteered at the dinner for the second year in a row.

Her grandfather works at the Valhalla.

"I guess it makes me feel really happy, because ... I'm helping other people who don't have as much stuff as I do,” she said.

In addition to the turkey dinner, families were given a chance to pick out donated toys as Christmas gifts for their children.

Brandy MacDonald, an unemployed single mother, picked up several gifts for her two-year-old daughter, including blocks, a doll, and several stocking stuffers.

"It's awesome. It really helps out," she said.

Diners were treated to the songs of carollers, who added some merriment to the annual feast.

Crowd down from last year

The executive director of community services at the Salvation Army said the event is an opportunity to bring those who are less fortunate a little more joy.

"There's people out there who, frankly, aren't going to have a Christmas dinner, [and] may not have a lot of joy in their life right now,” Rob Kerr said.

“So by doing this, we're just giving an opportunity for people to come together, to share and enjoy a nice dinner and maybe just bring a little bit of happiness into their life today."

The crowd was down from last year, when Kerr said about 260 people attended. He and other organizers guess that Sunday's poor weather kept many people from coming.