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Some 250 kilograms worth of turkeys, 500 kilograms of potatoes, and nearly 1,000 servings — 988 to be precise.
Such are the bare statistics for the 23rd annual Thanksgiving charity dinner held Sunday at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School. But impressive as the figures are, they don’t tell the whole story as far as the event’s long-time organizer Ed Mahfouz is concerned.
The dinner is one of at least two charity meals available over the Thanksgiving weekend to those in need or those who are alone. On Monday, the Union Mission on Waller Street will offer “a delicious turkey dinner and companionship” between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In Mahfouz’s case, the motive for such giving is straightforward. Forty-five years ago, he sometimes found himself in circumstances similar to those he now serves. “I was sometimes alone and hungry, and I promised myself that when I made it I would give something back,” says the 65-year-old.
That notion of giving back seems to extend beyond Mahfouz. This year, he says, the dinner had 161 volunteer servers, most of them from 14 different local high schools. Last year, half-a-dozen schools participated.
The giving doesn’t stop with the meal, however. While Mahfouz pays for the turkeys himself, he relies on school-sponsored food and clothing drives to provide a bag of groceries and items of clothes for those who need them.
Many of the students use the time they devote to the Thanksgiving dinner to satisfying their high school community volunteer requirements. But some, says Mahfouz, return even after they’ve fulfilled their volunteer hours.
James K cracks a smile as he enjoys a meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Pumpkin Pie is served at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Students wait to serve meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
“Some of them come back because they like it. I think they enjoy giving back. Not only do they serve, they sit down and talk to our guests, sharing their stories.”
That enthusiasm is attracting adults, too. This year, for the first time, Mahfouz had entire families, parents and children, spending the day as volunteer meal servers. “I’ve had a parent and a child serving before but never entire families. This year I had four families, the father and the mother and their kids, as volunteers. They said they were thankful for being able to share the experience with their kids.”
Mahfouz’s “guests,” as he likes to call them, also appear to be thankful. They come from all walks of life — families with toddlers, the elderly and those of are just lonely — and some, he says, have been coming to his annual dinner since it began.
“The lonely, the hungry, and the thankful, we serve them all.”
Volunteers prepare to serve freshly made turkey meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers take a break in the foreground as people enjoy a meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
James K (L), Greg Bredost, and John Miner enjoy their meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Linda Rheaume sips coffee following her turkey meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
A student helps an elderly lady back to the bus at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Meals sit ready to be served at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers work the kitchen at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers work the kitchen at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
A young boy enjoys his meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
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Such are the bare statistics for the 23rd annual Thanksgiving charity dinner held Sunday at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School. But impressive as the figures are, they don’t tell the whole story as far as the event’s long-time organizer Ed Mahfouz is concerned.
The dinner is one of at least two charity meals available over the Thanksgiving weekend to those in need or those who are alone. On Monday, the Union Mission on Waller Street will offer “a delicious turkey dinner and companionship” between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
In Mahfouz’s case, the motive for such giving is straightforward. Forty-five years ago, he sometimes found himself in circumstances similar to those he now serves. “I was sometimes alone and hungry, and I promised myself that when I made it I would give something back,” says the 65-year-old.
That notion of giving back seems to extend beyond Mahfouz. This year, he says, the dinner had 161 volunteer servers, most of them from 14 different local high schools. Last year, half-a-dozen schools participated.
The giving doesn’t stop with the meal, however. While Mahfouz pays for the turkeys himself, he relies on school-sponsored food and clothing drives to provide a bag of groceries and items of clothes for those who need them.
Many of the students use the time they devote to the Thanksgiving dinner to satisfying their high school community volunteer requirements. But some, says Mahfouz, return even after they’ve fulfilled their volunteer hours.
James K cracks a smile as he enjoys a meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Pumpkin Pie is served at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Students wait to serve meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
“Some of them come back because they like it. I think they enjoy giving back. Not only do they serve, they sit down and talk to our guests, sharing their stories.”
That enthusiasm is attracting adults, too. This year, for the first time, Mahfouz had entire families, parents and children, spending the day as volunteer meal servers. “I’ve had a parent and a child serving before but never entire families. This year I had four families, the father and the mother and their kids, as volunteers. They said they were thankful for being able to share the experience with their kids.”
Mahfouz’s “guests,” as he likes to call them, also appear to be thankful. They come from all walks of life — families with toddlers, the elderly and those of are just lonely — and some, he says, have been coming to his annual dinner since it began.
“The lonely, the hungry, and the thankful, we serve them all.”
Volunteers prepare to serve freshly made turkey meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers take a break in the foreground as people enjoy a meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
James K (L), Greg Bredost, and John Miner enjoy their meals at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Linda Rheaume sips coffee following her turkey meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
A student helps an elderly lady back to the bus at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Meals sit ready to be served at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers work the kitchen at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
Student volunteers work the kitchen at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
A young boy enjoys his meal at Sir Guy Carleton Secondary School’s 23rd annual thanksgiving dinner for the needy and the less fortunate on Sunday, October 12, 2014.
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