Christmas gifts make their way into the Door of Hope. (Submitted photo/Delton Sylvain)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Door of Hope party

Door of Hope to bring good cheer

Dec 18, 2024 | 4:38 PM

The Door of Hope is set to spread some Christmas cheer this Friday and a few famous faces are expected to make an appearance.

“We will have a Christmas meal for all of our Door of Hope family members and we’re going to be giving gifts to each person that (steps) into the building,” said Delton Sylvain, Meadow Lake Outreach Ministries executive director of the lunch.

The event, simply dubbed the Door of Hope Christmas Event, will also sprinkle a little holiday spirit with bingo and other games.

“We will be fostering a Christmas environment for all of our clients,” he said.

“It’s going to be a very, very, very good day.”

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Guests will enjoy food prepared by helpers and later, receive gifts with the help of an elf, the Grinch and Mrs. Claus herself.

“We’ve always had these Christmas events, but we just wanted to put a little piece where we wear costumes,” said Sylvain, noting that the decision was made following a conversation he’d had with a team member.

Most of their clients didn’t get the chance to make memories as children and it was a way to offer comfort and build something new.

“In fact, we have a Christmas tree, and we will be putting the gifts under the tree.”

Organizers are expecting roughly 150 people, and it will be open to everyone. Meadow Lake Co-Op donated all the food and staff will be on hand to help serve.

“They are amazing,” he said.

The executive director explained this is a true community celebration as it has been the community that has taken the time and initiative to donate, reach out and ask what the food bank needs.

“Unfortunately, due to inflation, everything is just crazy expensive,” he said, adding they serve 55 families.

“Being able to meet that expectation or that demand is because of the community members. It’s not just our team; it’s the community members.”

Once all is said and done, it’s Sylvain’s hope that they will have created a sense of belonging for the people he looks on as family.

It’s “very important for us to give some of our clients that experience that they didn’t have when they were children,” he said, adding the goal was to treat members with love and dignity.

“We eat the Door of Hope, we cry at the Door of Hope, we laugh at the Door of Hope, we go through struggles at the Door of Hope. I want Christmas to be another piece that will just foster more respect, more sense of pride and sense of belonging.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

On BlueSky: juleslovett.bsky.social