Downtown Mission serves the last Christmas lunch at the Victoria Street location

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The atmosphere was festive and warm in Downtown Mission as people gathered for the last Christmas lunch on Saturday at the Victoria Street location.

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Serving turkey and all the side dishes, along with apple pie for dessert, they were dedicated volunteers, some there for the first time.

Michele Sera and her husband Gary Sera spent part of their Christmas day working in the kitchen.

Gary has volunteered every Monday for the past five years, but it was Michele’s first time.

“I lost both of my parents last year, so I needed a distraction,” Michele said. “I love it. It’s good to see everyone here and everyone is so welcoming here (in the kitchen).

“You meet great people.”

When asked why he’s volunteering, Gary said he was initially looking for something to do to fill his time.

“And the people you work with are wonderful. The guests, I see some people I know. It’s good to help, ”he said.

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Brittany Lavin, program and service manager, said the mission will serve three meals a day plus snacks to an average of 100 people over the holidays.

People have to eat in shifts, seated at individual tables scattered six feet apart due to COVID-19 restrictions. When you finish your meal, you must leave the building.

“It’s weird to be the last one (in the Victoria Street building) due to COVID, right?” Lavin said. “As you can see, the tables are not the cafeteria style tables we used to have. They are all individually styled.

“We have definitely seen some problems with this holiday having such separate meal times,” he said.

“We really pride ourselves on that family environment and making everyone feel welcome. Holiday seasons are tough for anyone, but especially here in a haven. “

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Downtown Mission must vacate the property by July 2022.

Lavin said plans for a new building are in limbo at the moment.

“We are still trying to find a place to be,” he said. “The need is definitely here, so we have to find a place to be.

“We still have possession of our 875 Ouellette Avenue location, which is where our shelter program is. I think that in the meantime, we’ll definitely be looking for shows in that building and I still have no idea what’s in the future. “

The mission owns vacant property at the intersection of Ouellette Avenue and Elliott Street and is considering building an accessible site there, next to the night shelter and wellness center.

Downtown Mission, which provides food and overnight beds to the homeless, has been in operation in Windsor since 1972. It has been at its current location, the old United Church on Victoria Avenue, since 2001.

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