Christmas Day Together 2024 – Report
The Christmas Day lunch at Wade St. Church is open to everyone but is mainly attended by people who would otherwise spend the day alone. Many of them are vulnerable in respect of either a physical disability or mental health. It is billed as being inclusive and with no charge made to the guests.
It began over fifteen years ago and during the COVID-19 lockdown, with gatherings not possible, we substituted with a delivery of Christmas food parcels providing a 3 course lunch. When the lunch proper recommenced, a few guests asked if they could continue to receive the box on account of limited mobility making it difficult to come to the hall.
This year, with the help of 17 volunteers, we delivered 19 food boxes, provided transport to and from the hall for 20 people and fed 25 guests in total. The meal consisted of soup, followed by sandwiches, pork pie, scotch egg and salad. Dessert was a choice of fruit salad or trifle. Next year we hope to return to providing a roast turkey meal, if we can find a new chef who has the experience to cater for 40 people.
The volunteers in the hall help serve the food but are also encouraged to sit with the guests to facilitate conversation and to address any problems with the food. This helps foster an inclusive atmosphere and reduce the distinction between someone being a guest or a volunteer. The volunteers are often also people who would otherwise spend the day alone.
Donations of food are sought from the local supermarkets with Tesco and Morrisons providing approximately £50 worth of goods. The total net cost of £1,088 fed 56 people and provided them with a small gift.
We remain grateful to Wade St church for providing the hall as our venue.
Two instances this year spring to mind as examples of how the work we do is appreciated and effective.
1. D has been a regular guest for a few years. During 2024 he moved into a local care home. I called the home to see if D would be joining us. The lady who answered laughed and said ' I'm so glad you've rung. D keeps saying how much he is looking forward to it and we were worried that he had imagined it!"
2. N joined us for the first time as one of the volunteers. It's fair to say that most volunteers are also with us for a reason and would probably otherwise be on their own. I don't know her personal situation but she said that she knew what it was like to be lonely. On the day she threw herself into it, serving food, chatting to guests and leading the singing. Afterwards she was helping with the washing up and Gaynor, my wife, told her how well she had done. She promptly burst into tears and said that no one ever says anything nice to her. A few days later she emailed us to say thank you and how much she had enjoyed it and was looking forward to the volunteers get together we are planning for February.