While many of us are focused on Christmas, the general manager at the Serbian Centre in Windsor is already focused on the needs of the homeless in the New Year.
It is launching its "Buy a Meal, Give a Meal" holiday food drive. The offer is open for November and December.
Instead of collecting cans, it wants to donate freshly-made, hot meals to the Downtown Mission and Salvation Army when they need it most, in January and February.
"Looking at our industry, our business, and the fact that we have a commercial kitchen sitting here that's easily able to feed hundreds of people, but the rules and the times that we're at right now -- we were looking for an opportunity to do a little bit more," said Dan Dobrich.
When patrons at the Serbian Centre buy a meal, the Serbian Centre will match their purchase with a meal donation to those agencies on their behalf.
A donation of $10 will also buy a 1/4 chicken dinner with pasta, garden salad, roasted potatoes, and a roll for the homeless.
Dobrich figures about 200 meals can meet the demand for a week. He already has commitments for 400, about two weeks' worth of food.
The initiative is open-ended. He hopes to continue it through January and February.