INNISFAIL – The COVID-19 pandemic has forced the cancellation of this year’s fifth annual Johns Manville Community Christmas Turkey Dinner.
However, the company intends to bring the holiday season event back when it is deemed safe to do so.
For the previous four years the annual turkey dinner has been a must-attend December holiday season event for hundreds of Innisfail and area residents, many of whom would stand in line for an hour outside the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion to ensure they could get a seat for a full course turkey dinner, and a chance to embrace community holiday season spirit and socialize with old friends.
In previous years, the event raised thousands of dollars from ticket sales, with monies going to support the Innisfail Christmas Bureau and the Innisfail and District Food Bank.
As well, the event, organized and hosted by dozens of committed Johns Manville Innisfail staff members, collected hundreds of pounds of donated food that was then turned over to the less fortunate during the holiday season.
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is creating challenges for all business and individuals,” said a statement released Dec. 2 by Johns Manville Innisfail. “Of all years, Johns Manville Innisfail knows it is important to support our local communities during the holiday season; however, with an ever-increasing risk of community exposure, and out of concern for our friends, families, coworkers and community, we have made the difficult decision to pause our annual Community Christmas Turkey Dinner for 2020.
“In lieu of the turkey dinner, JM employees will continue to contribute to our community in other – safer – ways, such as cash and food donations to local charities,” added the statement.
“We wish all of Innisfail and the surrounding communities a very happy and healthy holiday season, and will look forward to a time when we can safely return to this important event.”
