Cathedral Outreach Volunteers Host Neighbours at Christmas Luncheon

Volunteers led by Jennifer Rees and Darlene and Randy Niederhaus prepared an Outreach Christmas Luncheon featuring a turkey dinner with all the trimmings for participants of the outreach programs at All Saints’ Cathedral. 

People ate together at festively decorated tables as Mary-Lou Cleveland played Christmas music in the background. Santa stopped in for a piece of homemade pie.

“It was a lovely way to connect folks from our four outreach communities,” says the Rev. Ruth Sesink Bott, All Saints’ Vicar. “We’re developing a community of care around people like our seniors from the Cathedral Close who have a restricted income and, in many cases, not a large support network of family and friends.”

The Cathedral hopes to host four outreach meals each year. The fall and winter programs include Seniors Bingo on Tuesday afternoons, Manna Market on Wednesday afternoons and Breakfast and Winter Outreach on Thursday mornings. They are always in need of new or gently used warm mitts, socks, underwear, hats, and scarves, especially during the cold winter months. If you are able, please drop off donations during Sunday services or at the office during the week.

Pictured: Jennifer Rees decorates with a festive centerpiece; Santa is greeted by Cathedral Dean Alex Meek before joining the other guests for lunch; Mary-Lou Cleveland plays Christmas music during the luncheon; Jennifer and Stephen Rees carry a large pot of vegetables; Randy Niederhaus peels vegetables; Darlene Niederhaus bastes turkey; vicar Ruth Sesink Bott carves the turkey;  volunteers plate the turkey dinner; Stephen Sesink (Ruth’s brother) slices homemade pies for dessert; Ruth Sesink Bott and Dawson Bott. Photos: Darlene Niederhaus