Chef Mike Radovanovic prepared about 400 plates of turkey, stuffing, gravy, vegetables and cranberry sauce that were served cafeteria-style to people sitting three to a table instead of six.
Rogers Chocolates donated 700 individual chocolate packages. Any left over from Tuesday’s lunch will fill the stockings of people living in supportive housing facilities managed by Our Place, including the former Howard Johnson hotel on Gorge Road East and the former Comfort Inn on Blanshard Avenue.
McKenzie said the former Comfort Inn is now housing 80 more people who were displaced by the November fire at the Capital City Centre Hotel.
Sitting alone in the courtyard just outside Our Place’s dining hall, Shelly Steele tucked into her stuffing and described the difficult year she’s had. The 51-year-old said she was evicted in June from a supportive housing building on Humboldt Street and has been homeless ever since.