Over 225 guests showed up at the Mannawanis Native Friendship Centre last Friday evening for the centre’s annual Christmas free supper event.
“We have our annual Christmas supper to bring the community together,” said Shelley Poitras, events coordinator for Mannawanis, adding, “This is not only for the natives, but for the whole community.
“We offer a free Christmas supper, and invite everyone that helped us out from the community to come out and see where their money is going when they make donations to us,” explained Poitras.
There were about 15 to 20 people volunteering to put the event together, and all the staff members of the centre put in extra hours to prepare the food and the hall for the event.
The event was sponsored by multiple community businesses and organizations like Sobeys, H&R Block, Extra Foods and the Royal Canadian Legion, and in total, eight turkeys, eight hams, moose meat and fish were served together with mashed potatoes and salads.
One of the sponsors, the Nielsens from St. Paul’s H&R Block, were honoured by Hinano Rosa, director of the centre, after supper.
“We are all human beings and we should be helping each other out,” said Dwayne Nielsen. “There are people who have trouble helping themselves, and for us who have been truly blessed by God, we need to pass on these blessings to people.”
The local business donated hats, mittens, long johns, toques and socks to the centre for people who are unable to buy needed warm clothing for the winter season. Some of the families that come to the centre need certain things like food and gifts for their children and the centre compiles a list and delivers what it can to these families’ homes, said Rosa.
“I just love the centre, and what everyone is trying to do here,” said Gisele Nielsen, Dwayne’s wife and partner at H&R Block.
Rosa explained the annual Christmas supper has been going on for over 20 years. “Our mission statement is that we bridge the gap between aboriginals and non-aboriginals,” said Rosa. “And within the last two years, we decided to open up the centre to the whole community.”
This year, the centre worked together with the Knights of the Columbus to distribute Christmas hampers. As for the centre’s free Christmas supper, almost the whole town came through with the donations required to host the annual event, said Rosa, adding, “We’re very thankful to the community.”
