Shared lunches raise spirits
While Barbara Lee conducted a Riverton church service, the hogget for the town’s community Christmas lunch was cooking in her oven at home.
Lee helped with food preparation for the lunch that catered for about 30 residents at the Riverton Senior Citizens building on Tuesday.
One of the organisers, Wendy Lopes, said the free meal was open to all Riverton residents, especially those who would be spending Christmas Day on their own.
‘‘The goodwill from people to help with this [lunch] has been huge,’’ Lee said.
People needing transport to attend were picked up by Lopes.
Businesses, organisations and individuals donated food and money.
German backpackers Laura Karisch and Felix Wegner contacted the organisers to ask if they could attend and in return would help with cooking and the wash up.
‘‘It’s been great and, hopefully, we can do it again,’’ Lopes said.
Co-organiser Paula Hayes said: ‘‘People have really enjoyed it. I’d like to see it grow into a big community event. The people here are really enjoying it.’’
Forty kilometres away in Invercargill, Mayor Tim’s Christmas Lunch was under way in the Scottish Hall.
It was the fourth year mayor Tim Shadbolt had arranged a Christmas lunch for people who might not be able to afford one, would be at home on their own or had had a tough year.
Sixteen organisations, including the Salvation Army, Invercargill Women’s Refuge and churches, were given tickets to the lunch to hand out to people who needed a boost at Christmas.
‘‘It can be a difficult time for people,’’ Shadbolt said.
‘‘They can be isolated and lonely . . . this is one way of giving everyone a free party.’’
Linda Howard and Teressa Laughton organised the occasion, which was attended by about 150 people and made possible by donations of food and money.
‘‘Women’s Refuge gave us highchairs for the three babies we’ve got here,’’ Howard said.
Peter Van Derlem said he would have been eating alone at home had he not received a ticket to attend from the St Andrew’s Church.
Richard Scott and friend Scotty Russell thought Mayor Tim’s Christmas Lunch was a great idea.
‘‘It’s definitely enjoyable sharing Christmas with others,’’ Scott said.
‘‘There are people from different cultures here and everyone is having a good time.’’