If anyone in Grande Prairie doesn’t have anywhere to go for Christmas dinner this year, the Fletcher family has a seat open at their table. Whether they can’t afford it or don’t have anyone to celebrate with, everyone will be welcomed to a community lunch at Shark Club on December 25th.
The late Helma Fletcher started the tradition more than 20 years ago, when she was the director of the Canadian Mental Health Association – Alberta Northwest Region. Her son-in-law Marcel Blais says she saw some of their clients had nowhere to go, and wanted to spend part of her Christmas helping them.
“I think the very first dinner was modest; she fed about six other people, and I got such a charge out of it. I told her how special it was and asked why it wasn’t any bigger and she said she didn’t have a big enough kitchen table.”
Blais was involved with Shark Club at the time, and it’s been the venue for more than 15 years. They open the doors from 1 to 2:30 p.m. for anyone and everyone to have a free turkey meal with all the fixings.
“It’s turned out to be a great event because there’s some people that we see there every year and have ever since it’s started,” Blais says. “It’s sort of become an extended version of our family.”
Thanks to the generosity of the family and the community, the dinner has enough volunteers and all of the food has been sponsored. Blais says anyone looking to pass it on is encouraged to donate to the local food bank.
“Anybody who wants to come or is thinking about coming should probably just come. This dinner isn’t just for the homeless; this dinner is for anybody who doesn’t have anywhere else to be on Christmas Day and wants to come celebrate with our family.”
Swiss Chalet is also holding its 6th annual Christmas dinner later in the day. A free meal will be served from 4 to 7 p.m. on December 25th with donations being accepted for the Disabled Transportation Society.
