Ottawa Mission serves nearly 2,800 Thanksgiving meals

The Ottawa Mission, along with shelters and soup kitchens across the province, openedtheir doors to host a Thanksgiving dinner.

"I want my granddaughter to know that there are a lot of people in need, and I want her to see that," said Michelle Desrosiers, who sat down for a Thanksgiving meal at The Ottawa Mission on Monday with her six-year-old granddaughter.

"It's nice to meet new people and see new faces. And I don't have to cook," she addedwith a laugh.

The Mission served turkey, with all the fixings,from11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on Monday. In total, volunteers served 2,779 meals during the five-and-a-half-hour event.

"There's a lot of people. Lots and joy and everything. It's great. And the food's great, too," Desrosiers said.

There was certainly no shortage of it. Volunteers prepared more than 1,000 kilograms of oven-roasted turkey this year.

About 150 volunteers made the meal possible, including Ottawa police Chief Charles Bordeleau and a team of officers.

"We all have a lot to give thanks for. And these individuals here are down on their luck for whatever reason. And we want to show them that we care and that they're important members of our community," Bordeleau said.