Hundreds of people got a warm meal on Wednesday thanks to volunteers and staff at the Erie City Mission.
The Erie City Mission provides a meal to people in need every day, but, for the second year in a row, they wanted to change things up and have the meal served restaurant style. Close to 300 people enjoyed a full plate of food ahead of the holidays.
People lined up ahead of the lunch hour waiting for their meal.
Brian Johansson, the President and CEO of the Erie City Mission explained, “It’s showing dignity. It’s showing compassion to our folks that are normally overlooked or have fallen through the cracks of society. This is their home, so we want to treat them with dignity and love.”
Nearly 75 volunteers made sure this was a smooth and successful event. Everything from the cooking, to the serving, and the clean up, to make sure a meal went a long way, including first time volunteer, Dan McGill.
“We have a mission to do here and I think having the more people here, the more hands on deck is going to help with that mission”, said McGill.
He was inspired to help serve and feed his neighbors in need, something that staff at the Erie City Mission does every day. As Johansson explained, “Also is a recognition of what we do 365 days a year.”
McGill said he will be grateful as he spends time with his loved ones this holiday season, knowing he did his part to help people looking for some kindness.
“It’s gratitude for me to be around people who appreciate so much of what’s going on today, and I can take that gratitude and I can take that gratitude back to where I am at with my family and friends”, said McGill.
The Erie City Mission did this a few time last year and want to continue this imitative more through the year.