Boyle Street Thanksgiving dinner serves 800

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Along with pumpkin pie, ice cream and a selection of pastries more than 800 people were served hearty helpings of turkey and all the trimmings at the Boyle Street Co-op on Thanksgiving Day.

The long line of people waiting for the centre to open its doors continued around the block as families, men and women attended the third annual Thanksgiving dinner.

"We're having more people this year because a lot of people are moving into the city to look for jobs and a better future," said executive director, Hope Hunter. "The dinner is working out great," she said.

Inside tables were set up and arrangements of flowers filled the dining area. The dinner's Elder, Grandma Grizzly, gave the prayer and entertained guests by playing a hand-held Native drum. Karen Bruno, young adult and youth worker at the centre, wore a turkey costume that brought smiles to the faces of children and adults.

Over the last three years the centre has served Thanksgiving dinner to the community. It all began when community members asked the principal of Boyle Street Education Centre, Shirley Menard, about co-ordinating a dinner at the centre. Menard, who was a journeyman chef before becoming a teacher, co-ordinated the cooking.

"I was asked to co-ordinate the first Thanksgiving dinner. There were dinners at the co-op before, but not to this scale," said Menard. "I enjoy cooking for the dinner," she said.

Everyone was welcome to attend, said Hunter.

"We look forward to seeing everyone enjoying Thanksgiving," she said.

The dinner that was sponsored by local businesses, including the Westin Hotel, Klondyke Flowers, and the Edmonton Journal, was prepared and set up by more than 60 volunteers. The impressive grocery list for the dinner included 87 turkeys, 45 kg of ham, 180 kg of potatoes, 90 kg of vegetables and 45 litres of gravy. The volunteers included employees from various agencies in the community, Grant MacEwan's nursing students and members of the co-op and their families.

"It is great being a volunteer. You get to meet a lot of people," said Fred Weller. "A lot of people from the community came together to put this dinner on," he said.

The Boyle Street Co-op in Edmonton is a centre that houses several programs for inner city residents, including the Health for Two nutrition program for pregnant women, Employment Resources, which helps people with employment readiness and job searches and the Drop-In Activity Centre, which offers a safe and welcoming environment for people to participate in activities and socialize.