Cafe serves up free Christmas dinner
100 given festive treat
A family- run cafe in Castlemilk brought some much-deserved cheer to their area by hosting a festive feast for locals.
The Hideaway at Castlemilk Sports Centre put on a free Christmas dinner for more than 100 people.
The dinner was held in Castlemilk Parish Church on Christmas Day after willing volunteers in the close-knit community chipped in to help make it all possible.
Castlemilk’s minister Rev Sarah Brown said: “For the past few years Castlemilk Parish Church has had the vision of running community meals and hosting one on Christmas Day.
“This year in August we started the twice-monthly community meals.
“I felt it was too much to ask members to commit their time on Christmas Day, given how hard they have worked during the year. We’ve moved into a brand new church building, dealt with the many extras that have occurred due to the move, as well as starting new things to fit in with our new space.
“But where there is vision the people shall not perish and it was neighbouring cafe owner Thomas Rowntree who came forward with a complementary idea and asked if he could run a community Christmas dinner on Christmas Day, as his own premises will be closed over the holidays.
“The idea was warmly met by community organisations and businesses and there have been donations from housing associations, schools as well as generous individuals.”
The day was initially meant for homeless people but was changed to an open event for anyone, ranging from families who are suffering a bit of hardship over Christmas to people who are lonely or do not have many plans over the festive period.
Many local businesses helped raise funds for the event and a Justgiving page was set up, which quickly exceeded its target of £500.