Volunteers work to leave no belly unfed

Volunteers work to leave no belly unfed
Prince George Hotel, Hope Cottage serve 200 dinners

by Devin Stevens
for Metro Halifax

Volunteers from the Prince George Hotel and the Hope Cottage soup kitchen gave up their Thanksgiving holiday yesterday, making sure Halifax's less fortunate had turkey in  their bellies.

Director Michael Burke said Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year because the kitchen is the only game in town.

"If you can't find three turkey dinners on Christmas day, you're not trying very hard," Burke said.

"I'm not sure if Thanksgiving is something they don't think of, but we'll serve 200 dinners here."

The charity regularly serves the poor with 4,000 meals a month.  Staff members from The Prince George come in once a month to help out.  Yesterday's meal was the second Thanksgiving they've worked, preparing it at the hotel and taking it to the charity's Brunswick Street building.

Hotel general manager Nicholas Carson siad his employees have led the way, donating most of the food - and their time.

"I think we're starting a bit of a tradition here," Carson said.

"It's not a news story for us.  It's just something we enjoy doing."

Burke says Hope Cottage has a budget of about $265,000, but receives no government funding.  There's always an outpouring of support on the holidays, but the charity is open year-round.

"In the middle of July it's hard to find anybody", said Burke.  "Nobody wants to be in here sweating it out when they can be on the beach drinking cold ones."