Thanksgiving is a time for coming together with loved ones and expressing gratitude. For one Edmonton pizza shop, it's also a time for giving back to the community.
By Jasmine King
Papa's Pizza, located in the downtown area, has been serving up slices and pies to Edmontonians for over 20 years. While business is usually steady all year round, owner John Papadopoulos says Thanksgiving is one of their busiest times as families gather for the holiday.
"Thanksgiving is all about spending time with family and being grateful for what you have. As a small, local business, we feel fortunate to be part of this community. So this year, we wanted to give back and help make Thanksgiving a little brighter for those who may be struggling or on their own during the holidays," said Papadopoulos.
For the past week, Papa's Pizza has been collecting non-perishable food donations from customers at their shop. They've also set up an online fundraising campaign where people can donate money. All the proceeds will go towards assembling Thanksgiving meals for those in need.
Their goal is to provide at least 50 turkey dinners that will include all the traditional sides like mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and of course, pumpkin pie for dessert. The meals will be delivered to the local homeless shelter as well as several seniors' homes in the area.
So far, the community has really stepped up in support of the initiative. Papadopoulos estimates they've collected several hundred dollars in online donations as well as a couple grocery carts full of canned goods, cereals and other staples.
Every little bit helps us reach our goal of putting a hot meal on the table for 50 families this Thanksgiving," he said.
Volunteers from the shop have been busy in the kitchen preparing all the ingredients for the meals. On Thanksgiving Day, they'll spend the morning assembling trays with everything prepared and ready to serve. Then a team will deliver the meals to the various locations for pickup.
For many who access services like homeless shelters, a Thanksgiving dinner may be the only hot meal they receive on the holiday. Seniors living on their own also appreciate not having to cook for just themselves. The meals provide both nutritional sustenance as well as human connection during a time meant for fellowship.
The true spirit of Thanksgiving, we're grateful to play a small role in bringing communities together," said Papadopoulos.
He notes this is the first year Papa's Pizza has organized such an initiative but hopes to make it an annual tradition. Any extra food or money raised will be donated to local charities to support their work with vulnerable populations year-round.
While the pizza shop will be closed on Thanksgiving Day, employees plan to drop by the shelters and seniors' homes to help serve meals and offer friendly faces. It's a small act of service but one that can make a big difference for those spending the holiday alone.
For Papadopoulos, giving back in this way is an important part of the business' role in Edmonton. But during the holidays, it's about using what we have to help spread some gratitude and joy." Thanks to the generosity of locals, many will feel that this Thanksgiving.
