Annual Christmas dinner at the Union Gospel Mission Gospel, Annual, Mission, dinner, Union

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Annual Christmas dinner at the Union Gospel Mission
Thousands of pounds of food being dished out
Denise Wong Dec 11, 2010 14:18:48 PM
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VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) - There is some festive cheer at Vancouver's Union Gospel Mission today.  Volunteers are dishing out almost 3,000 pounds of turkey and 500 pumpkin pies.

That's just a sample of the spread for the UGMs 70th annual Christmas dinner.  Thousands of homeless and struggling people show up for the feast every year.

Among them this year is David Goertz, who says it's the next best thing to a family meal.  "They make you feel like you're somebody.  They tell you 'You are somebody,' and they believe it, which is cool."

Goertz tells News1130 it's about "having the feeling that you belong, that people actually do care.  I've noticed it myself; a lot of people just walk by like you don't even exist."

Gospel Mission President Bill Mollard says the dinner is just the first step.  "We've already got people who will be entering our alcohol and drug recovery program because they came for a meal."

Mollard admits donations are down but he's hopeful it'll pick up over the holiday season.


David Goertz