Thanksgiving meal raises funds for Islanders in need

Dozens of volunteers worked all weekend to serve up Thanksgiving turkey with all the trimmings for about 850 people in P.E.I. Monday evening, all for a good cause.

• Thanksgiving meals raise thousands for Farmers Helping Farmers

• Gratitude: You don't need a feast to reflect on the good things in life

The New Glasgow Christian Church organizes the Thanksgiving fundraiser which raises about $8,000 for people in need. The event has been hosted by different groups and in different locations over the last 50 years.

Everybody seems willing to turn out and help with this worthy cause. Edith Ling

"The proceeds of it we use now to help individual families that find themselves in need over the coming year," said Edith Ling, one of the organizers.

"It's great to see everyone working togetherand being in a big groupand getting things done quick,because it's a lot of work," said volunteer Ben Vos.

Much of the food is either donated or discounted.

"Everybody seems willing to turn out and help with this worthy cause," Ling added.

'So much to be thankful for'

Money raised from the event often goes to fill up someone's oil tank, buy families groceries or help with transportation costs to hospitals outside P.E.I., Ling said. The group works with the school system to identify families in need.

"We have so much to be thankful for, and it's just our privilege to share a little bit of it with other folks who aren't as fortunate as we are," said Ling.

The group cooked 29 turkeys Sunday, prepared dozens of pies and plum puddings and peeled many kilograms of potatoes.

Tickets were $15, or $6 for children 12 and under.

• MORE P.E.I. NEWS IP.E.I. conference set to develop new health improvement pledge
• MORE P.E.I. NEWS ILike Scouts for grown-ups: P.E.I.'s Fox Club Society