Big-hearted cafe serves up festive dinner pledge
A CAFÉ in the north of Glasgow has stepped in to make sure the lonely and vulnerable have dinner on Christmas Day.
Big-hearted staff at Emmi’s Diner in Balmore Road have been bombarded with requests for help after making the announcement on their Facebook page last week.
The team was looking for locals residents to nominate someone who is vulnerable and likely to be spending Christmas alone this year in the catchment areas of G20, G21, G22 and G23.
The post added: “Please ask them to give us a message or pop into our store and we will provide them with a full Christmas dinner, starter, main, and sweet completely free and also deliver it for them also on Christmas Day.”
The big response to the heartwarming move was so unexpected, that staff are now set to deliver double the amount of festive meals to those most in need.
Speaking to the Evening Times, 29-year-old owner Jamie Kelly described how there is “a lot of poverty” in the north and West End of Glasgow.
He said: “Some people have too much, others have too little and it’s time to give back.
“Poverty is a big issue here and foodbank use has risen drastically.
“We’ve got a corporate and social responsibility to those in need in the local area.
“We were expecting to deliver around 40 meals when we had originally planned around 20. The response has been absolutely amazing.”
The food isn’t just being given out to the elderly. Mr Kenny said: “We don’t want to know who it’s going to. If there are vulnerable and lonely people in need, we’re here to help.”
Mr Kelly also said people want to know how they can get involved and said extra members of the delivery team are being drafted in to help dish the meals out on Christmas Day, along with small gifts which will be added.
Mr Kelly said: “Many individuals have been asking how they can get involved or even if they can pay for a person’s meal once they’ve been referred.
“We will cover everything for everyone up to 40 meals. However, once we go above 40, we won’t be able to take any more.
“After this, we’ll be running a buy-a-Christmas-dinner scheme, where anyone can buy someone’s dinner for them.”
For anyone who wants to know more or know how they can get involved, pop into Emmi’s Diner at 148-150 Balmore Road. Alternatively, call Mr Kelly on 07452 832492 or search ‘Emmi’s Diner’ on Facebook to be kept up-to-date.