PHOTO GALLERY
Hope Mission is a local not-for-profit social care agency caring for men, women, youth and children experiencing poverty across Alberta. In Edmonton, Hope Mission serves over 1,000 meals each day and provides a safe place to sleep for around 500 people every night.
During this year's Christmas dinner, the goal was to provide an opportunity for families in need to enjoy time together during the busy and often stressful holiday season.
"There's a lot of families out there that don't have other family," said Miranda, a mother who attended the event with her children. "They don't have a warm meal (or) that Christmas feeling that kids should have.
"The Hope Mission make you feel like family."
It was the first time the EOCF took part in the event and EOCF Executive Director Natalie Minckler assured it wouldn't be the last.
"It's wonderful that we can share a festive meal with families during this holiday season," said Minckler. "When we can all rally together and help one another - especially at this time of the year - we're all hands on deck willing to help out."
Near the edge of the basketball court outline, the Oilers players, EOCF and Hope Mission members were draped in orange aprons serving food to roughly 300 empty plates.
Full clans gathered around the dinner tables, with kids whizzing by laughing. Christmas carols resounded in the background as many lined up on the stage for family portraits or a photo with friends in the photo booth. It truly was all about family.
Oilers Captain Connor McDavid roamed the floor serving tables. When his hands weren't clutching plates, he kept them busy by signing autographs and hugging children and little Oilers fans.
In fact, you would have been be hard-pressed to find a child without a smile when they looked upwards to the Oilers captain.
"That's why we do this," said McDavid after a youngster wrapped his arms around the Oilers player's knees and squeezed.
"It's good to see all the smiling faces and everybody enjoying themselves and really relaxed. For one night, you just take all the stress away from whatever's going on in your life and just come in and enjoy a nice meal," added McDavid.
Hope Mission spokesperson Robin Padanyi had nothing but high praise for the outcome of the Christmas banquet and believed his organization and the EOCF accomplished their mission.
"We want to show families and our city that they're cared for and we at Hope Mission are behind them together with the Edmonton Oilers Community Foundation.
"It shows these families that they're cared for; that they're not forgotten this time of year and it shows the kids, as well, that people believe in them."
Delivering Christmas dinner to Edmonton Community
