Hundreds of people were treated to a free delicious takeout Christmas
dinner at St. Margaret Church in New Toronto.
Dozens of volunteers were preparing the takeout meals, which
were distributed on December 24, to help feed up to 200
of those homeless or financially challenged.

About 30 volunteers take about three days to prepare the
dinner, which includes the cooking of about 20 turkeys
(400 pounds) in five ovens, 150 pounds of potatoes and
about 25 turnips, Brussel sprouts, carrots and peas.
The dinners have been take-away meals due to concerns
about numbers that can safely eat in the church hall, as
they were in previous years.

 

“Before 2020 up to 250 people came in to sit and have
something to eat,” said organizer Cara Wigle. “Due to
COVID now it is take-out prepared meals that people
register for ahead of time so we can still distribute a large
number of meals that are requested.”

“It was great and there are the regulars who come back
year after year,” said Wigle, who with husband, Bob,
have been helping to organize the dinners for 31 years.
She said the dinner was first started by church volunteer
Alan Oliver with about 40 to 50 people and now they
have up to 200 people showing up due to the high price
of food or places to stay.

“We cater to a whole range of people from those

  who are reasonably housed, those who are
marginally housed or actually experiencing
homelessness.” About 20 children with their
parents are also served and given toys as well.

The fact that the Wigle and Oliver children and
grandchildren have joined to support the endeavour
has meant the dinner has been able to continue for
the past 31 years. Son, Matthew Wigle and his wife
Christine Ma now organize and oversee the
preparation, cooking and distribution of the
food. “It is a big operation that takes a lot of work
but we all enjoy it.”

 

The guests each received a large takeout bag with three hefty
take-out containers with food. One contained turkey
and ham with gravy, stuffing and cranberry sauce and
another with vegetables – potatoes, turnips, Brussel
sprouts and carrots/peas.

Another dessert container
included a clementine, some cookies, squares, brownies,              butter tarts, scones all of which were individually
wrapped. Also included in the bag were various gift
items like personal items, scarves, mitts, toques and
socks as well as gift cards for Tim Hortons.

“Many of them have enough left over for a second
Christmas Day dinner or lunch,” Wigle explained. “We
give them enough for two days.”
The former teacher said some of the dinners can be
heated up at the church for those with no place to go. “A
lot of the people are seniors, who may be lonely,” Wigle
said.

“Some are precariously housed and a
few are living in cars or on the streets.”
Over the years, the Christmas dinner has
always relied on support
from various businesses

Much of the food is donated by local
companies that includes Ontario Food
Terminal. Virtu Financial, Canada is the major
financial donor along with present and past church
members and their families.
Former Toronto Maple Leaf Baseball Club owner
Jack Dominico donated turkeys for St. Margaret’s
community meals for many years and even left in his
will that the group receive turkeys three times yearly.

 

St. Margaret New Toronto, which is more than 115-years
old, also hosts a lunch every Sunday, with the help of
Haven on the Queensway, that is attended by about 60
people. There they can take showers, charge up their
telephones, do their laundry, stay warm and conduct
other chores.

gle/Oliver group also host a
community dinner on the third Monday of the month
supported by local businesses with chief donor being
Penske Trucking. Pastor Jacqueline Daley said her
church is proud to do its part in helping others in need in
the community.“If not, many may not be having a meal.”