UGM expects to feed Easter dinner to thousands this weekend

Vancouver’s Union Gospel Mission is setting up to feed a lot of people this weekend in its 34th annual Easter meal on Saturday.

UGM spokesperson Nicole Mucci tells CityNews they are expecting 2,700 community members to partake of the meal — and this is no small feat to pull off.

“[It] takes a lot of work and a lot of food, including 1,600 pounds of ham, 700 pounds of scalloped potatoes, around 250 litres of pineapple sauce, 700 pounds of veggies, and over 500 apple pies,” Mucci said.

But she says these events are about more than just food.

“It’s especially important for many as you come into our Easter meal, it is a sense of community and togetherness that those big meals provide,” she said.

“A lot of folks are coming in, sitting down, having conversations, potentially meeting some of our outreach workers and really enjoying a nice hot meal.”

UGM’s Easter Meal takes place from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. Saturday at their Downtown Eastside location at 601 East Hastings Street. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

There is also a meal at the organization’s New Westminster Resource Centre at 658 Clarkson Street, with seatings at noon and 2:30 p.m.

As well, women and families are welcome to stop in for a meal at UGM’s Women & Families Centre at 616 East Cordova Street, with doors opening at 10:45 a.m.

The Union Gospel Mission is both a shelter and resource centre for people in Vancouver experiencing homelessness. It regularly serves breakfast, lunch, or dinner at its Vancouver and New Westminster locations. The organization said it serves over 800 meals a day.