It took a week of preparation and a week of cooking, for Ashley Smethurst and her family to serve up more than 230 meals to people in the Penticton community this holiday season.
In 2019, the family invited those who didn鈥檛 have family of their own to join them for Christmas dinner, but COVID-19 made it impossible to do that again.
Instead, beginning in August, Smethurst started organizing and posting on Facebook to let people know they had an option for Christmas. Then came the planning, the prepping, cooking, and finally delivering the food.
鈥淭here are so many grateful people,鈥� said Smethurst. 鈥淔or some, it might not be much, but for others, it means everything for them.鈥�
Ashley, her husband Matthew, neighbour Nana Dee, and two volunteer delivery drivers dropped off the meals. Most were delivered on Christmas Day, while the Smethursts delivered a few dozen more on Boxing Day to people around Victory Church and the soup kitchen.
鈥淚 am also 17 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby,鈥� said Smethurst. 鈥淪o it definitely took a lot out of us, but was totally worth it.鈥�
Twelve turkeys went into the dinners, along with many pounds of vegetables, potatoes and cranberries.
The family also took to the streets in November to deliver holiday treat-bags of home-baked cookies, kettle corn and more.
The family is ready to do it again next year, although they aren鈥檛 sure if they鈥檒l be making as many meals as they did this time.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a family tradition now,鈥� said Smethurst. 鈥淭he need depends on if COVID is still hurting our community. I noticed last year without COVID, there were only 53 [who came to dinner] so there was a much bigger demand this year.
鈥淚f people are hungry, we will feed them.鈥�
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