ANNUAL `FREE' TURKEY DINNER

As I stated in a previous article, Volunteering, there are a myriad of ways to be a volunteer and innumerable organizations to volunteer for.

In the winter of `01, quite by accident, no, no one was injured, a little truck driver humour there, I know, very little, I bumped into Diana, a fellow transportation specialist. I would have said fellow Teamster but I am not a member yet and Diana Kilmury is one of the senior members. In fact she was the first female member, they even made a movie about it.

I digress, I was using an ATM and Diana was at the bank to withdraw some funds to buy cigarettes. Diana told me that each year the Teamsters 155 and other members of the film industry help put on a turkey dinner for the homeless in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

In the skid row, a slang abbreviation of the old logging term `Skid Road', section of Vancouver, or poor part of town, is a lovely place called Oppenheimer Park. Here, each year, on the last Sunday before Christmas, volunteers gather to brighten Xmas for the needy of the area.

The event was actually started in `88 by Sister Hilda's New Hope Mission. That winter Rick Brush and his `Reel Appetites' mobile kitchen served 300 meals. In `01 mobile kitchens from five catering companies served 2,800 meals. As well, cash donations were made to the Union Gospel Mission, Triage Emergency Services, and the Powell Place Women's Shelter.

In `92 the film industry became more involved when Jane Mundy, 155 (Teamsters), Al Uglanica, and Julia Neville of IATSE (Motion Picture Technicians), and Mary Anne Waterhouse, DGC (Directors Guild of Canada) founded the Oppenheimer Park Christmas Fund.

FIRST TAKE CATERING (L - R) Robert - 155, Sonia (wife of Greg) - volunteer, Greg - 155 Security, Blaine - Production Accountant	REEL APPETITES (L - R) Christy - Production Equipment Rentals, Kerry - Production Equipment Rentals, Tracey - Production Equipment Rentals, Tristen - Production Equipment Rentals, Gerry - Gerry's Automotive, Deirdrae - Gallery Resources, Newfoundland, Jodi - Art Director Cold Squad production, ACFC Art Dept. Council Member, John - Instant Bedrooms
BUS FARE CATERING Early morning arrival	(L - R) Steve - Production Equipment Rentals, Tracy - UBCP actress, Patricia - Volunteer, Lona - Volunteer, Debbie - Volunteer, Sarah - Production Equipment Rentals - Volunteer - daughter of Steve
EDIBLE PLANET CATERING	(L - R) Elly - Volunteer, Ursula - Volunteer, husband is stand-by painter, Laurel - Volunteer, Kyle - Volunteer

The day centers around the mobile kitchens that take over Dunlevy Street at the end of the park. Volunteers cook the turkeys at home and bring them to the kitchens where other volunteers cook the side dishes. Other volunteers dish up and hand out the meals.

(L) TOM 155 Sec. Tres. & (R) MIKE 155 member

Starting the day early. A plywood floor is laid for the clothing tent. [Plywood, & clothing personnel, supplied by PMP. (Pacific Motion Pictures)]

At other locations throughout the park other volunteers hand out clothing, cigarettes, coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider, snacks, and soda pop.

The clothing is collected by donation or purchased by donated funds. Pacific Motion Pictures stores and sorts the clothing prior to the event which is held the last Sunday before Christmas.

If you wish to cook a turkey contact Reel Appetites at 604-929-5443. If you wish to donate clothing contact Michael O'Connor at 604-602-7310. If you wish to donate money or help with sorting or distributing the clothing, call Julia Neville at 604-786-0486.

OH COME ALL YE FAITHFUL The Song Circle, UBC (L - R) John, Bruce, Katie, Megan, Karen - Learning Exchange, music director UBC	SCOTT Employee of the Vancouver Park Board
A & B PARTYTIME RENTALS Vic, in truck, & Matt. A & B supplied tables, and heaters, which, luckily, we didn't need	KATE (L) & JUDY Putting lights on the trees, St. James Community Services Society
ERICA - IATSE (L) & LIZA - Locations Dishing up Nanaimo Bars	CLOTHING TENT Shoes, Gloves, Shirts, Coats. The most popular booth in the park, after the catering trucks
CAITLIN (L) & KATIE St. James Community Services Society not only supplied the trees and lights but also hot: coffee; chocolate; and apple cider	NOAH APEX TENT & EVENT RENTALS supplied the tent for the clothing

DIANA 155 Trustee Handing our cigarettes, courtesy of Teamsters 155. Limit, 3 per customer	SUSAN SNAP (Special Needs Adoptive Parents)	MARTIAL - Volunteer (L) & MIKE - Teamsters 155 Handing our soda pop

If you would like to be a volunteer this year, contact any of the groups involved or simply show up at the park, the last Sunday before Xmas. Early birds start at 8 AM.

ME 155 permittee

Jester's hat on my head and camera on my hip, ready to record and pitch in where ever needed.

I did. After Diana explained to me what was going to happen, and as I had nothing else to do the next day, I was at the park bright and early. As I had brought my camera and forgotten my Santa hat Diana appointed me official photographer and lent me a Jesters hat.

I had a great day, wandering from group to group, pitching in where ever I could, and taking pictures of the action.

RED 155 Vice Pres.

Winding up, literally, at the end of a successful day.

END

RELATED WEB SITES

A & B PARTYTIME RENTALS	AARDVARK ARMADILLO TENTS INC.	APEX TENT AND EVENT RENTALS		DGC Directors Guild of Canada	IATSE Vancouver Local 891
INSTANT BEDROOMS	PMP Pacific Motion Pictures (No Longer in Business)	REEL APPETITES	TEAMSTERS 155 A local of Teamsters International.	UBCP Union of British Columbia Performers An affiliate of ACTRA.	VANCOUVER PARK BOARD

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