Skip to content

20,000 free Christmas dinners and counting for Gordy Dodd

Victoria businessman donates 1,000 meals at Our Place Society for holidays
14886850_web1_181220-VNE-GivingBack1PDec1313-2
Gordy Dodd, hugs a patron at the Our Place Society in 2013. (File Photo)

Gordy Dodd has helped serve free Christmas meals for two decades.

Alongside friends, family and volunteers, the owner of Dodd’s Furniture’s continues the tradition at the Gordy Dodd Annual Christmas Dinner serving another 1,000 turkey dinners with all the fixings and dessert at the Our Place Society in downtown Victoria.

RELATED: Friends, family honour lost friend with dinner

“I came to this country and the people from the Island are so good with me… so I started to give to the community because they give money to me,” Dodd said. “I love it, it makes me happy and I am more satisfied when I am helping any needy people, this is my passion.”

Dodd moved to Canada in 1967 working in a sawmill and as a furniture salesman before moving to Victoria and opening the first Dodd’s Furniture in 1977. The original 2,500-square-foot store on Quadra and Kings street has now been expanded to a new 35,000-square-foot location and now owns two more locations, one in Nanaimo and one in Campbell River.

“My mother used to say you get blessings from the people (you help), they will help you,” Dodd continued. “These are the things I learned, now I am in a position to give back.”

The Gordy Dodd Annual Christmas Dinner serves Turkey, vegetables, gravy with pies for dessert, Dodd also sponsors an annual Thanksgiving dinner in October. He also donates two dinners in Nanaimo and Campbell River every year.

ALSO SEE: Our Place coupons provide holiday dinner

“Our Place is happy to provide our dining room and kitchen services to support the Dodd’s Annual Christmas dinner,” said Our Place Executive Director Don Evans. “Our Staff enjoy preparing the meal and it means so much to the vulnerable people in our community to have special opportunities to connect with friends during the holiday season.”



arnold.lim@blackpress.ca

Follow Arnold on Twitter
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter