Kelowna Gospel Mission volunteers Dennis and Jane Linden prepare food for the annual Christmas dinner.

Photo credit: SUBMITTED / Kelowna’s Gospel Mission

December 18, 2020 – 3:05 p.m.

Kelowna’s Gospel Mission will have another Christmas dinner this year, but it won’t be open to the public due to COVID-19 safety concerns.

To minimize the spread of COVID-19, the mission will not be open to the public for Christmas dinner this year, but the outreach team will be handing out around 400 Christmas meals to those in need, according to a media release. Some of the meals go to partner agency shelters and transition homes, others to people who live rough lives.

The Gospel Mission will also serve meals for residents currently living in the 60-bed shelter on Leon Avenue and the 40-bed winter home on 550 Doyle Ave.

The homeless shelter awaits hundreds of traditional turkey Christmas meals with filling, ham, mashed potatoes, vegetables, cranberry sauce, rolls and cakes with whipped cream.

READ MORE: Kelowna homeless shelter builds community as it huddles during a pandemic

“I have just passed the six-month mark in the leadership of Kelowna’s gospel mission and have never known a time when we are not in a crisis,” said managing director Carmen Rempel in the press release.

“We are coping with trying to help people find affordable housing, the opioid crisis and of course COVID-19. This Christmas, it is more important than ever to make our residents feel connected and family. We are so grateful for our community for donations to ensure that nobody is missing. ”

The needs of the gospel mission extend beyond Christmas and any help will be greatly appreciated. Contact Kelowna’s Gospel Mission through the website here to make a donation or give a gift in kind.

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