Close to 250 people made their way through the missions Victoria Ave. location Sunday
Windsor's Downtown Mission has been making sure people have a hot meal and community at its annual Easter Luncheon since 1972.
Close to 250 people made their way through the mission's Victoria Ave. location Sunday, one of those people is Bruce Patterson.
The 64 year old's battle with alcoholism landed him on the streets, eight years later, he credits the mission with helping him come out on the other side alive.
"Found myself on the streets of Windsor and I had the great-privilege of enjoying this place with its Christmas dinners, Easter dinners and all of the other things they put on," he says. "It's really been a lifesaver for me."
Patterson says there's always a sense of community at the mission.
"Went through a bout of alcoholism, got over that through the programs and now I come here to enjoy the benefits." says Patterson. "It's a privilege, it really is a privilege. They've done wonders with this place and what they're doing ... I can't thank them enough."
Guests were lined up to get into the mission Sunday.
Something that may be a thing of the past once its new Ouellette Ave. location opens with a much larger dining area.
The Building Hope campaign was launched earlier this month to raise the $5.5-million needed to transform the former Central Library Branch building.