BC Turkey and Egg farmers donate $50,000 of products to help the health of those in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
MEDIA ADVISORY
December 16, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
BC Turkey and Egg farmers donate $50,000 of products to help the health of those in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Abbotsford, Aldergrove and Vancouver, December 17 -
From his farm in corner of rural Abbotsford, James Krahn is making a
big difference for the most poverty-stricken neighbourhood in Canada. As
the Director of the BC Turkey Association and a third-generation
Abbotsford turkey farmer himself, Krahn has been part of an effort that
raised over $50,000 for Union Gospel Mission’s food program. The
donation comes from the BC Turkey Producers and BC Egg Producers
Associations, via money raised at their annual Golf Tournament and other
donations year-round.
“It’s quite rewarding as a farmer,” says
Krahn. “You’re already offering a good product to someone in your local
community, but to know that what you’re producing is going to help those
in desperate need is a good feeling.”
At Union Gospel Mission’s
Downtown Eastside facility, the egg and turkey donations have been very
well received. “It is a real challenge to get good nutrition to people
who are homeless and living with mental health or addiction issues,”
says UGM Senior Chaplain Bruce Curtiss. “Good quality protein is like
gold here on the Downtown Eastside. Service providers do their best, but
there is often a lack of protein in the meals served. What people
really need is good protein, and that’s exactly what they’re getting
with these donations.” Curtiss says that the lineups at the Mission’s
morning drop-in program have doubled since they added hard-boiled eggs
to the breakfast. “Besides the homeless, we’re seeing people come in
with hardhats and work boots who are eating a couple eggs before heading
to temp work agencies. We also see quite a few seniors from the
neighbhourhood coming through looking for eggs and good-quality meat
products like turkey, especially near the end of the month when they’re
trying to make it the last few days before their assistance cheque comes
through. They can tell the difference in their energy levels and health
when they eat right.”
Beyond serving mouth-watering turkey
dinners for the holiday season, Union Gospel Mission has also worked in
other turkey products to the regular rotation of meals, including
delicious turkey sausage, ground turkey, turkey a la king, and BBQ
turkey thighs. Using the donated eggs, Union Gospel Mission chefs have
created omelettes, frittatas, and a host of other egg recipes for many
of the more than 250,000 meals UGM serves every year in Metro Vancouver.
About Union Gospel Mission
Union
Gospel Mission has been reaching hungry, hurting, and homeless men,
women, youth, and children for nearly 70 years. Through its 8 locations
in Metro Vancouver and the city of Mission, UGM provides counseling,
education, safe housing, and alcohol and drug recovery to those
struggling with poverty, homelessness, and addiction. The heart of the
mission is to demonstrate God’s transforming love, ease the burden of
the most vulnerable, rebuild the lives of the broken, and offer dignity
to those who feel cast aside. UGM is a proud member of the Canadian
Council of Christian Charities. To find out more, visit www.ugm.ca.
