Published March 2026
The Christmas season is always a time of extraordinary sharing. In the midst of homelessness, the reality of scarcity is also felt, as people search for shelter from the harsh winter weather.
At St John’s Kitchen we gather every day with a spirit of sharing and cooperation. Christmas is a time to emphasize how we create an atmosphere of celebration and plenty. A time of asking, how much do you need today? A feeling of abundance reduces competition for resources and helps each person feel a sense of security and belonging.
Our first Christmas dinner at the new St. John’s Kitchen was held on December 18th with a feast of traditional home cooked turkey dinner with all the fixings, and pies for dessert. We were accompanied by our Board President Carol Taylor and Acoustic Steel who welcomed people with lively steel drum music. And there was enough for everyone. Our outreach teams carried dinners to encampments and motels and spots where people could be found to share the bounty and to celebrate the season together. In all we served 1,000 Christmas meals. Gift bags of snacks and toiletries were shared.
On Christmas Eve, once again the Swiss Chalet franchise owners throughout KW pitched in together to provide 500 chicken meals that were served throughout the day. We are grateful that this long tradition continued with lots of volunteers helping to serve and clean.
This year, with Christmas Day on a Thursday, our SJK team realized that we couldn’t close down for the holidays in the cold weather, so the call went out to those who wanted to help keep the Kitchen open on Christmas and Boxing Days. We had plenty of team members and volunteers who helped to keep the place open. This made Christmas Day even more special, with volunteers working together to keep the spirit of Christmas alive on Christmas Day.
At Erbs Road Shelter the common area was decorated with twinkle lights and Christmas decorations, as the Christmas Day turkey dinner was served for 50 people as they came together to share the meal. The shuttle helped to get people to places they wanted to visit all through the season.
At Water Street Hospitality House Christmas was celebrated with a family air about the place people make home. Check out the details of their celebration below.
Many thanks to the workers and volunteers at Maurita’s Kitchen who ensured that multiple Christmas Dinners were shared by many at these different sites and at different times.
The feeling of plenty extended into the New Year as we settled into our new home at St. John’s Kitchen and knew that this purpose-built space would be perfect to accommodate an Overnight Warming Centre. The feeling of the abundance of space, the strength of our teams who come to work with openness each day, and the generosity of our wider donor community has been a blessing in the face of the hardship and despair that we see around us. We know that when people feel they belong, that they are known, when their very basic needs are met, then we can celebrate special moments together and build a spirit of care for each person.
Christmas at Water Street Hospitality House
Christmas at Water Street Hospitality House is thoughtfully observed with a careful balance between celebrating the spirit of the season and remaining mindful of the complex emotions and experiences this time of year may evoke for many individuals. Some enjoy the excitement of the day while others want to wish it away.
At Water Street Hospitality House, we tend to enjoy baking, a traditional meal, and generously donated gifts on Christmas Day. A calm settles over the house with some joining in the celebration and others deciding to quietly pass the day reflecting on Christmases past.
Water Street Hospitality House is not new to juggling the varied needs of our residents and Christmas is no different. We work to strike a balance between the excitement of the season and the bittersweet memories that can go along with that for many people.
Christmas time brings twinkle lights, shared baking and reminiscing of years gone by to Water Street Hospitality House.
