Thanksgiving Dinner 2026

On Monday, October 12, 2026, Good Shepherd celebrated the Thanksgiving by welcoming hundreds of people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity at 412 Queen St. E. to share a festive holiday meal together. It was a joyous event and over the course of the day 1,708 meals were provided, surpassing meals served on this day in 2025. This increase is a clear reflection of the growing number of people relying on community supports across Toronto to access food.

Meal service began at noon and continued until 2:30 p.m. Guests enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving feast featuring turkey with all the trimmings, served in a sit-down, restaurant-style setting by dedicated coworkers and 50 volunteers. Preparing for the event required weeks of planning and included approximately 150 turkeys, 1,000 pounds of potatoes, 400 pounds of homemade stuffing, 300 pounds of vegetables, 130 pounds of cranberry sauce, 50 litres of gravy, and treats – including apples picked and donated by students from a local apple farm.

While Thanksgiving remains one of our most significant days of service, our daily meal service numbers are also quite substantial – we currently provide more than 1,100 meals and snacks daily and expect to serve nearly 400,000 meals this year. According to research from the University of Toronto cited in recent reporting, approximately 24 per cent of Canadians lived in food-insecure households in 2025, affecting nearly 9.8 million people, including 2.4 million children. In Toronto, nearly one in four households has experienced food insecurity, and food bank use continues to reach record levels.

“Thanksgiving is about more than sharing a meal. It’s about sharing community, dignity, and hospitality with people who may otherwise spend the holiday alone,” said Aklilu Wendaferew, Executive Director of Good Shepherd Ministries. “We are deeply grateful to the volunteers, donors, coworkers, and community partners whose generosity made this celebration possible. Their support ensures that our neighbours are welcomed with warmth, compassion, and hope.”

For many guests, the annual Thanksgiving dinner provides not only nourishment but also companionship during a holiday that can be especially difficult for those without family or stable housing. Good Shepherd remains committed to being a place where everyone is welcome and where everyone is valued.

Though the Thanksgiving holiday is over, the need remains throughout the year.

How You Can Help:

Donate: Just $3.25 provides a nutritious meal for a neighbour in need.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/donate to make a donation.

Volunteer: Help us serve meals, kindness, and hope.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/volunteer to sign up to volunteer.

Organize a Food Drive: Collect non-perishable food items such as rice, canned vegetables, tuna, peanut butter, cereal, and other pantry staples.

👉 Visit www.goodshepherd.ca/ways-to-give

Together, we can provide warmth, dignity, and hope to our neighbours facing hunger, homelessness, and isolation.

Thank you for being a part of our mission to serve with compassion.

Additional Stories about our Thanksgiving Event

🌐 https://www.cp24.com/local/toronto/2026/10/12/we-care-for-them-thanksgiving-meals-served-to-hungry-around-toronto/