Christmas lunch to spread cheer

While many people enjoy Christmas with family, for a small group in the community it is a day spent in the company of new friends and generous volunteers.

Horsham Uniting Church has hosted a traditional Christmas Day lunch for people across the region for more than 14 years.

The event, made possible through community donations and a team of volunteers, provides a shared meal for about 100 people each year who might otherwise be alone on the day.

Church liaison officer Jenny Payne and community co-ordinator Mandy Kirsopp organise the annual get-together.

Mrs Payne said they wanted to spread the word about the ‘valuable’ event, which regularly welcomes people from areas including Natimuk, Nhill and Murtoa. “It is a real family gathering,” she said. “Christmas is a time of friendship, joy and goodwill.

“Unfortunately, for many people throughout our community, Christmas can also be a lonely time with friends busy or away and family members living in distant parts of the country.

“For them, it might just be an ordinary day, but with the lunch it helps to make the day a little bit more special.”

Mrs Payne said the Christmas lunch was also important for the 15 to 30 volunteers on the day.

“A lot of them are experiencing the same thing and looking for something worthwhile to do on Christmas,” she said.

“We have many people who come back each year to help out.”

The lunch includes a meal of roast potato, chicken and ham, followed by plum pudding, pavlova and fruit salad.

Mrs Payne said there would also be entertainment, carols and a visit from Santa for children.

She said the church was able to provide transport assistance for people through its volunteers.

People who wish to attend the lunch, or are interested in becoming a volunteer or making a small monetary donation to purchase food, can call the Uniting Church office on 5382 4380 or Mrs Payne on 0428 740 591.