Niagara Gospel Mission hands out 1,500-plus meals to people in need in Niagara Falls

The Niagara Gospel Mission had a busy Thanksgiving eve and day, preparing and handing out more than 1,500 prepackaged Thanksgiving Meals to people in need in the City of Niagara Falls.

Around 300 volunteers showed up and were assigned different roles for the “Feed the Falls” event. On Wednesday night, volunteers cut pies and packaged rolls, while children colored the bags where the food would be packaged for families. On Thanksgiving morning, more volunteers came in (starting at 7 a.m.) to warm up the turkeys, corn, gravy, stuffing and mashed potatoes. After the meals were prepared, another group of volunteers came in to drive the meals to families who had called ahead and asked for a meal.

The Niagara Gospel Mission handed out over 1,500 meals to those in need in the surrounding community. Volunteers also packaged individual meals for the Niagara Falls Police Department and Fire Department, along with security forces at the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. Each unit had people on duty, away from their families on Thanksgiving, keeping the community safe.

“It was such an encouragement to see all the volunteers that came out Wednesday night and Thanksgiving morning to help share the love of Christ and a hot meal with their neighbors in need,” Executive Director Tom McLaughlin said.

Incoming Executive Director John Cooper Jr. added, “For all the negative things in our world today, it is good to see that there is still hope. When you get to share the love of Christ by providing 1,500 meals to people in need, and have 300 people sacrifice time for their fellow neighbor, it gets me pretty excited and filled with hope.”

Niagara Gospel Mission is located at 1317 Portage Road, Niagara Falls. It is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit providing services to the homeless and poor. Visit niagaragospemission.org to learn more about current services and plans to develop services for homeless women.