British Columbia

Vancouver's Union Gospel Mission to serve 3,000 Thanksgiving Day meals

"On these events we see a lot of new faces so that gives us the opportunity to reach out and help new people that we haven't had the opportunity to meet yet," says Union Gospel Mission kitchen manager Randy Spark about Thanksgiving Day feast.

'It's been a busy week but at the end of the day it's all worth it,' says kitchen manager Randy Spark

Union Gospel Mission kitchen manager Randy Spark has been busy preparing Thanksgiving day meals for 3,000 people. (CBC)

There are probably few people who have worked harder than kitchen manager Randy Spark and his team at Vancouver's Union Gospel Mission to prepare a Thanksgiving Day meal.

That's because, for days, the agency — which provides shelter, food, outreach and spiritual support to the city's homeless and poor — has been preparing 2,500 lb. of turkey meat to be divided up for 3,000 meals.

The Union Gospel Mission has prepared 2500 lb. of turkey for its annual Thanksgiving Day meals. (CBC)

"We've got ice cream upstairs, we have about 800 lb. of stuffing, about 800 lb. of vegetables, it's just ongoing, it's just non-stop on top of everything else throughout the day," said Spark. "So yeah it's been a busy week but at the end of the day it's all worth it.

"I can't tell you how many times I've had somebody come up and tell me they enjoyed the meal and to me that alone is what makes it worth it."

800 lb. of stuffing! (CBC)

Meals will be served from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. PT on Monday and volunteers, including Mayor Gregor Robertson, will help serve.