The heartwarming numbers behind Christmas at the Friendship Inn

On December 25, the Friendship Inn will open its doors to provide a warm lunch to those in need.

With a mission to serve free meals 365 days a year, the organization is once again opening its doors to ensure that no one in the community has to go without a traditional and festive meal on Christmas. From homemade pies to the heartwarming efforts of volunteers, here’s a glimpse at what makes Christmas Day at the Friendship Inn so special.

Laura Herman, development and engagement manager at the Friendship Inn, said the non-profit is prepared to serve 2,000 meals on Christmas Day. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

Two thousand meals

This Christmas, the Friendship Inn is prepared to serve up to 2,000 meals to those who would otherwise go hungry.

“For Christmas Day lunch, it will be your traditional turkey meal, so roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, veggies. And I think there might even be a few little chocolates kicking around that we will add to people’s Christmas lunch,” said Laura Herman, the Friendship Inn’s development and engagement manager.

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Twelve hundred volunteer hours

Behind the scenes, an army of volunteers will be working tirelessly to make sure everything runs smoothly. Each month, the Friendship Inn benefits from about 1,200 volunteer hours.

These volunteers help with everything from food preparation to serving meals, and Christmas Day will be no exception.

“We have anywhere between 20 and 30 volunteers in the building on any given day,” explained Herman. “It’ll be the same for Christmas Day. The support from our volunteers makes all the difference.”

The Frienship Inn relies on a large group of volunteers. Each month, the non-profit benefits from about 1,200 volunteer hours. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

Seven hundred and fifty pies

For dessert, there will be homemade pies, with the Friendship Inn expecting to serve 750 pies.

“There are a couple of church groups in the city that do pie-making bees and they sell them, and everything that’s left over — if there’s any leftovers — gets donated to us,” Herman said.

She said the donated pies will bring a little extra joy to the guests, allowing them to enjoy a homemade holiday treat they might not otherwise have access to.

Seventy-five turkeys

As anyone who has cooked a holiday meal knows, preparing enough food for a large group is no easy task. At the Friendship Inn, that means roasting dozens of turkeys.

“We’ll probably cook somewhere between 70 and 80 turkeys for Christmas Day here at the Inn” noted Herman. “That’s what we need to serve the community. It’s a truckload full of potatoes and carrots, and the celery that goes into the stuffing! It’s an enormous volume of food.”

Laura Herman with the Friendship Inn said staff members and volunteers will cook between 70 and 80 turkeys in preparation for their Christmas day lunch. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

Thirty staff members

While volunteers play a crucial role in the day-to-day operations of the Inn, the staff is the backbone that keeps everything running smoothly.

The Friendship Inn operates every single day of the year, serving thousands of meals, and the dedicated staff is at the forefront of it all.

“We have a staff of about 30 people who operate the inn every day of the year,” said Herman.

Those individuals work tirelessly to ensure that each meal is prepared with care and that everyone who comes through the doors is treated with dignity and respect.

Nine per cent increase in need

Each year, the need for the Friendship Inn’s services grows, and this holiday season is no different.

“We certainly see an increase when we track our numbers year over year,” Herman shared. “We count plates here — we don’t count people. We count the number of meals that are served, and we absolutely see a rising trend. We were up about nine per cent, and that exponential growth continues year over year.”

The rising need for food and support in the community underscores the importance of the Friendship Inn’s work, especially at Christmas when many are facing difficult circumstances.

Along with meal services, the Friendship Inn offers take-away meals, access to washrooms, and even warm clothing during the winter months. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

One community hub

Beyond providing meals, the Friendship Inn, located on 20th Street West, serves as an essential community hub for those who need it most.

“Along with the meal service, we offer take-away meals, access to washrooms, and even warm clothing during the winter months,” said Herman. “We also have a family worker on site to help with government assistance programs, housing, mental health support and hygiene products.”

The inn is a sanctuary for many, providing not only food but a sense of belonging for those who may have nowhere else to turn.

Each year, the need for the Friendship Inn’s services grows, and this holiday season is no different. Laura Herman, development and engagement manager at the Friendship Inn, said the number of meals served has gone up nine per cent year over year. (Alex Brown/650 CKOM)

As volunteers busily prepared the meal, chopping and dicing enough vegetables to fill more than a thousand plates, Herman reflected on the importance of Christmas Day at the Friendship Inn.

“We know that the people who are here on Christmas Day are here because they just don’t have anywhere else to be,” she said.

“They maybe don’t have a family. They might be unhoused. We just want to make sure that everyone has a special Christmas and is fed, that they have somewhere to be, and that we can offer them a moment of friendship in our dining room, too.”

On December 25, the Friendship Inn will continue its tradition of offering not just a meal but a sense of belonging, ensuring that everyone has a warm, welcoming place to spend the holiday.