Christmas lunches not hard to come by
There are plenty of places to go for lunch this Christmas in Manawatu¯ .
The Palmerston North Salvation Army’s Christmas lunch sold out three days after tickets went on sale and volunteers are sorted weeks in advance.
Salvation Army captain Stewart Lee said about 15 volunteers would be giving their time on Christmas Day to help at the dinner.
Also on December 25, Darren and Cheri Birch will be holding their annual Christmas lunch and cricket game in The Square from midday. The lunch attracts a wide range of people, from international students to the elderly.
‘‘Bring a plate if you can. If not, just come and hang out,’’ Cheri Birch said.
Feilding’s community Christmas lunch is a group effort between Makino Rotary Club, Manchester House, the Salvation Army and St John’s Anglican Church.
Organiser Nigel Ramsden said people attending could expect a full Christmas lunch and presents afterwards.
The lunch starts at 11.30am at the Salvation Army Hall. People can buy tickets from Manchester House in Feilding. They are $5 a person or $20 for a family of any size.
‘‘The lunch is a gathering of people who might be lonely, and just want to be with people on Christmas,’’ Ramsden said.
He expects more than 100 people to turn up.
All food and presents at the lunch have been donated by local businesses.
Palmerston North and Whanganui Hospital patients won’t miss out on the festivities and will be served Christmas lunch and dinner. They will have the choice of roast lamb, roast chicken or a vegetarian filo roll for lunch, while the dinner menu includes pumpkin soup, glazed ham and desserts.