If you caught CityLine on Tuesday, November 16 you’ll know that Kimberley Seldon, Tamara Griffith-Robbins, Samantha Pynn and I all talked about the traditions we hold dear to our hearts each year.

For Kimberley it’s about making sure folks arrive home alive after they leave whatever party they’ve been at.

Tamara talked about celebrating her mom’s birthday at Christmastime every year. And Sam made us all go “awwwww” when she showed us the two little pink birdies she’s using in her family tradition of adding a new ornament each season.

In the Moore household every Christmas starts with a huge breakfast made by mom and a morning filled with gift-opening and guests. The afternoon brings a much-needed siesta and then it’s off to a huge meal (yep, again) at any relatives house that can hold all 40 of us for a sit-down Christmas gluttony-fest. It’s the best!

So to head off all that food hedonism, the Perron household (that’s my husband’s last name) tries to give back. Lio has started a holiday tradition I’m really proud to be a part of. For the past three years he’s organized a turkey dinner for the homeless at St. Anne’s Church in our neighborhood. He asks corporations to donate turkeys, vegetables and sides and gets friends to help cook the turkeys and prepare the meal.

This year the lunch took place last Saturday (December 11th). Calphalon donated several cooked turkeys and side dishes (thank you!) and CityLine donated many gifts (thank you!) for both adults and children (hygienic products, books, games etc). And I’m sad to say it but you might be surprised at just how many children attend each year.

I’m also sad to say that it was a full house.

Of course Lio was happy that the turkey got eaten and the gifts put a smile on everyone’s face…but again…a full house is not something to celebrate is it?

On top of all the good will so many came up to me to express their regrets over the passing of Mark Dailey. That’s the kind of selflessness I never get tired of in this country. Many of the participants in this lunch are working poor…and yet they still find the time to mourn the loss of a colleague.

I like bringing Sidney to this function and getting him to “help” out as much as he can. That usually means running up and down in places he shouldn’t be (i.e. the church kitchen) and dragging the decorations off the walls. Whatever.

The point is he’s there and hopefully will one day understand that giving back is as much a part of the season as receiving gifts. This year we added our newest member to the lunch. I imagine Eva will be skipping the turkey and eating the same meal I serve up to her several times a day. Shockingly she’s not bored of it yet.

Check out the quick video I shot of the lunch at St. Anne’s Church. A big thanks to husband/wife organizers Colette and Carlos. Without them this wouldn’t happen every year.

And while we’re spreading the good will – come out to our CityLine Gives Back event at the Toronto Eaton Centre this Friday, December 17th. Bring the kids or just some coffee and hang out with our most loved guest experts. You can take pictures, ask them questions or just chill out! The only thing we ask is that you bring a small donation. The more you give – the more chances you have of winning some awesome giveaways. I’ll be in studio…but they’ll be in the area between H & M and Sears between 9:30 and 11:30am.

If you’ve got any questions or any of your own holiday traditions you want to share, hit me up at contacttracy@cityline.ca

See you Friday!

Tracy