Cafe team grant Christmas Wish
A popular town centre cafe delivered 50 home cooked Christmas dinners with all the trimmings to homeless hostels.
The Wishing Well, in Ayr’s Cow Wynd, off Alloway Street, cooked up a storm.
They delivered takeaway soup starters and turkey dinners to Ayr’s Viewfield Gate, Elba Gardens and Secession House in Troon on Christmas Eve.
Residents tucked into a festive feast of lentil soup with bread before their main course of turkey, mash and roast potatoes, brussels sprouts and carrots, stuffing, pigs in blankets and gravy.
Co- owners Ashleigh Cooper and Audrey Aitken were approached by their friend Dianne Cunningham, a key worker at Elba Gardens sheltered accommodation in Ayr, and asked if the pair knew of any businesses doing takeaway Christmas dinners.
“We just decided to do ourselves,” said Ashleigh.
She told the Post: “The hostels would usually do it in- house on Christmas day but because of all the restrictions and lockdown their kitchens are closed. it
“They were going to have to either go without or rely on donations so we said ‘ absolutely not, we’ll just do it.’
“It was originally supposed to be for 13 people but then Dianne came back to us and said ‘ how would you feel about doing 50?’
Ashleigh and daughter Jordyn Millar, who works in the cafe, spent three- and- a- half hours cooking up the goods.
And co- owner Audrey’s son Chris Mcallman pitched in a helping hand to deliver the meals alongside Dianne.
Dianne’s colleague Hank McLaughlan helped to source desserts so that residents could enjoy a full three course meal for their festive celebration.
Ayrshire Women’s Hub also got involved by delivering three boxes of donations of biscuits, selection boxes and chocolates.
Ashleigh said: “It’s good to let other people know so they can donate to these places and help out too.
“These people really have nothing and it’s just so unfair, especially at this time of year.
“We really hope that we made such a rough Christmas Day a little bit better for some.”