The Queen's Bar and Grill in Port Elgin. Screenshot from Google Maps Streetview
The Queen’s Bar and Grill in Port Elgin is getting ready to distribute its annual Christmas dinner for those who could use help with one.
Restaurant owner Pier Donnini says it’s a Christmas turkey dinner brought right to people’s homes by volunteers. There will be turkey, gravy, stuffing, squash, potatoes, pie, bread and butter.
It’s the 14th year the Queen’s has been providing a Christmas dinner and it’s grown each year from about 100 dinners to thousands.
“Please make sure, if you know a neighbour, if you have a cousin, if you have a coworker that you know is going to be having some stress,” says Donnini, the Queen’s would like to help.
Donnini says, “I want to be certain we’re catching everybody that could appreciate a meal. Whether you’re stuck in a motel or you’re here working only three days, we make sure all the emergency services get their meals.”
“I’m always worried we don’t reach the people that could benefit from it,” says Donnini.
He notes, they did 1,700 dinners last year in Saugeen Shores and Saugeen First Nation. “It’s pretty significant,” says Donnini who says this year, they’ve purchased 80 turkeys and plan on providing about 2,000 meals.
“On the 23rd we pack a number to be determined and deliver it to the community centre in Saugeen First Nation and they distribute it internally within their community,” says Donnini who adds, on the 24th they pack the meals to be delivered an another team of volunteers makes that happen.
Last year they had about 150 volunteers.
“I urge people to come and see what we’re doing,” says Donnini. He says if you want to volunteer, contact olivia_barwell@hotmail.ca
sschristmasdinner@gmail.com or you can call Chuck and Linda at 519-832-6003 for ordering meals
Those who would like a meal should reach out by December 19th, though Donnini says they may be able to take a few late requests.
He says if you want to contribute to the cost of providing the turkey dinners you can email christmasdinnerdonation@gmail.com
“Our community shows up in force for this,” says Donnini adding, “We have giving people here, for sure.”