Downtown Mission serves holiday meal with a show

Published Dec 25, 2023 • Last updated 9 hours ago • 2 minute read

Students from Gosfield North Central Public School perform during the annual Christmas meal at the Downtown Mission in Windsor on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Hungry folks in need marked the festive season with a holiday meal at a shelter in the city’s core.

More than 200 people attended the Downtown Mission on Friday afternoon for the charitable organization’s annual Christmas luncheon.

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Derek Welna, 38, said the Downtown Mission offers a positive atmosphere for people “on a daily basis,” not just around the holiday season.

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“The staff here are amazing. They do a bunch for everyone in the community,” Welna said. “The meal itself just brings everyone together for Christmas … that might be less fortunate or not have too many things, anywhere to go in life. It’s kind of like a giant family here where everyone contributes.

“It’s a good atmosphere and a good environment for people that have been less fortunate in life.”

Welna credits the mission with helping him to secure his own home, which he moved into earlier this month. A successful graduate of the Phoenix addiction recovery program, he’s been sober for almost a year now.

Sounds of the season: Gosfield North Central Public School student musicians provide Yuletide cheer at the annual Downtown Mission Christmas meal in Windsor on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star The annual Christmas meal at the Downtown Mission in Windsor had an added bonus on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, thanks to talented Gosfield North Central Public School musicians. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

Ahead of the meal, the Gosfield North Central Public School concert band performed for the mission’s guests for the 18th year.

Rukshini Ponniah-Goulin, executive director of the mission, said the mission received “a lot” of donated turkeys, potatoes, and other holiday meal staples. The parents of students in the concert band also prepared homemade baked goods to share with the mission’s guests.

“It’s a special day. We ask our guests to all sit down, relax, and take a little bit of extra time to enjoy their meal. Our volunteers serve them at their seat,” she said.

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Food donations have recently been plentiful, and food bank cupboards are currently full, she said The organization has begun to stock its warehouse to get through January, when donations tend to taper off.

Chaplain Dan Bianchi prepares treat bags for the annual Christmas meal at the Downtown Mission in Windsor on Friday, Dec.22, 2023. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star Kitchen manager Jeremy Tofflemire carves a turkey on Friday, Dec. 22, 2023, for the Downtown Mission’s annual Christmas meal. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star

“We ask people to consider … doing a (food) drive for us in January or February — that’s when things start to slow down a little bit in the donation world and our food bank starts to deplete.

“We’re seeing more people coming to our food bank. We don’t want to turn people away because our shelves are empty.”

The mission serves three meals each day at its 850 Ouellette Ave. location. In addition to its food bank, wellness and enterprise programs, the organization has 96 overnight shelter beds and 10 crash mats, as well as a winter warming station for folks to escape the cold after nightfall.

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