Some helping hands in Guelph are busy as bees, setting up for a special meal later this month.
But to achieve its goal of handing out 150 meals and 150 gifts, the Helper Bees and Your Downtown Guelph Friends need your help.
The two organizations are teaming up to hand out Christmas meals and small gifts to the city's most vulnerable residents Sunday, Dec. 18.
In order to cover the costs of the meal and the gift of a Tim Horton's gift card, a Canada Helps fundraising page has been set up, with the goal of raising $2,000.
"Sadly, we've seen so many more people this year than in the past. Now, we're starting to see young people, and we're seeing newcomers to Guelph," said Helper Bees coordinator John Dennis.
"We've doubled the number of people we've been serving, so what we want to do is we want to do something nice for these folks and remind them they're not forgotten during the holidays."
The meals are part of the normal offerings given out twice a week in front of the Guelph Concert Theatre at the corner of Woolwich and Wyndham Street.
Usually, sandwiches and lasagna are among the items on the menu.
But it'll be a Christmasy twist for the third year in a row.
"It'll be turkey, and potatoes, stuffing and yorkshire pudding and gravy, vegetables and then dessert to go with it," Dennis said, adding there will also be a vegan option.
He said people just line up like usual, with volunteers arriving likely around 1:45 p.m. and serving until 3 p.m.
Organizers are also seeking any lightly used or new items for the free gift market being set up at the event, as well as gift bags and wrapping paper. Donations are being accepted at the Church of the Apostles at 86 Glasgow St. N. between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.
Volunteers are also sought after, to help wrap the donated gifts.
Anyone looking to help out is asked to reach out to Helper Bees by email at [email protected].
