'It warms the heart': Siloam Mission serves Christmas dinner to hundreds
Siloam Mission served up its annual Christmas meal Friday to hundreds of guests at its downtown shelter.
"We were prepared for 700, but definitely this is fuller than we expected," Luke Thiessen, the communications manager with Siloam Mission, told CTV News. "I expect today will be one of our busiest meals in a long time."
Thiessen said the event was weeks in the making, from planning the menu to coordinating with volunteers.
This year's main course was meatballs thanks to a donation of 250 pounds of ground beef served alongside mashed potatoes, veggies, and slices of pie in a restaurant-style setting.
Thiessen said the meal is a highlight of the year- for Siloam Mission's staff, volunteers, and guests.
"Every one of our holiday meals feels like a special time," he said. "But especially, people are dressed up, we've got a choir singing. It warms the heart to see the gratitude that people have when we're able to serve them this meal, do something special, sit down and enjoy kind of family-style. It's a really wonderful event and a nice time for everyone involved."
Siloam Mission expects to serve more than 1,000 meals before the New Year.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.