Volunteers were busy serving up hot meals at the eighth annual Festive Street Lunch at All Saints鈥� Anglican Church on Saturday, Dec. 17.

People filled the church hall on 27th Street for a free turkey lunch, dessert, coffee and a gift bag full of scarves, hats, gloves, warm socks, a bag of candy and a 鈥渇un item鈥� of their choice.

Deena, who declined to have her last name published, said she鈥檚 been coming to the annual event for a number of years.

鈥淭he meal is exquisite, the people, the service is exquisite, the food is made with love and we look forward to coming here every year. It just makes our Christmas,鈥� Deena said. 鈥淲hen you eat your meal you can taste the love that鈥檚 put into every bite.鈥�

琉璃神社 magician Leif David went from table to table performing his mind-bending tricks, while Jim Leonard played holiday music on his keyboard.

鈥淭he idea is not so much just to fill a belly, it鈥檚 more about bringing a bit of light and joy into people鈥檚 lives and hearts, even if it鈥檚 just for a short time,鈥� said Michael Robinson, lunch coordinator. 鈥淕iving people a lift, that鈥檚 what it鈥檚 about.鈥�

Centrepieces and place mats at the tables featured the artwork of Beairsto Elementary School students.

The Street Lunch isn鈥檛 just for the holiday season; the lunch is put on every Saturday of the year from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Robinson gave a 鈥渉uge thank you鈥� to all the groups that participate in the Saturday Street Lunch throughout the year, and to the people who donated to cover the gift bags. He also gave special thanks to Stussi Sport for donating hats to give out.

Robinson said this year鈥檚 lunch came together all thanks to donations from the community. The organizers didn鈥檛 have the benefit of an event sponsor this year.

鈥淲e would love to have sponsorship next year,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t would be just such a blessing for us.鈥�

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