Free dinners provide true festive spirit
THE Christmas period is a time of enjoying with friends and family, but for some it can also be a difficult and lonely time.
It’s for this reason that a church in Ammanford has arranged free dinners every year on Christmas Day since the 1990s, and they have gone from strength to strength ever since.
This shows the true Christmas spirit, with people giving up their own time to help others less fortunate and make the day happier after what has been a difficult year.
Organised by Ammanford Evangelical Church for the last three decades, the community Christmas Day meal has provided food and friendship and has welcomed guests of all ages and backgrounds from the town and surrounding villages.
Having been held at Ammanford Pensioners Hall in the heart of the town for many years, Llandybie Memorial Hall opened its doors on Christmas Day 2019 and saw guests who would have been spending the festive celebrations alone enjoy a free meal, each other’s company, entertainment and carols.
This year, because of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdown, it was not possible to get together in the hall for Christmas Day.
Instead, the church wanted to continue to offer the meals to the town and the wider Amman Valley community in a different way.
The Coopers Arms pub in Betws prepared 70 twocourse dinners with all the trimmings for those who would otherwise have gone without on the special day.
The dinners were then collected and delivered to households by more than 40 volunteers.
Each person was given a gift, mince and chocolates.
Sammy Davies, pastor of Ammanford Evangelical Church, said: “How we also pies celebrate has changed because of the pandemic but we’ve just been given a an opportunity to think of new ways to show love and care for our neighbours.”
“It’s amazing that this
Christmas, when so much has had to change, that so many people have pulled together to carry on this wonderful tradition of looking out for and looking after each other over Christmas.”
Byron Evans
25 Cwmamman Road, Ammanford. byronevans1@hotmail.com
Arcade News in Ammanford has been so grateful for how the community at large has supported them recently. They also wished to ensure that they are also supporting those in the community too. During the year, they donated sweets,nonperishable food and toys to the Ammanford Foodbank. They also donated lots of their sweet cones, which were added to the recent Christmas food parcels. Thank you all for what you do, Ammanford Foodbank!
Feeding the community The spirit of Christmas is still alive and well in Ammanford, despite the pandemic. So, well done to Ammanford Evangelical Church once again for arranging free Christmas dinners, despite the different circumstances. Having served festive meals since the 1990s, this welcome scheme, normally hosted at Ammanford Pensioners’ Hall, and last year at Llandybie Memorial Hall, provides an important tonic, with a free meal, friendship, entertainment and carols on Christmas Day. Covid meant that this year meeting up was not possible, so this time, the Coopers Arms, Betws, prepared 72 two-course dinners with all the trimmings for the community, who would have otherwise gone without. They were then collected and delivered by over 40 kind volunteers, whose welcome deliveries included mince pies, chocolates and a gift. Looking ahead, the free community Christmas meal organised by Ammanford Evangelical Church will return in 2021. Kind gesture Meanwhile, a very kind festive gesture saw Ammanford Fire Station’s firefighters, who were on duty on Christmas Day, recieve the very welcome delivery of Christmas dinners from the Raven Inn in Garnant; the on-duty crew at Station 65 says a huge thank you for this kind gesture which was greatly appreciated.
Birthday news Celebrating her 87th birthday just before Christmas was Betty Harries (née Styles), a resident at Garnant House Residential Home, formerly of Garnant and latterly of Tirydail, Ammanford.
Ebeneser, Rhydaman Oherwydd yr ansicrwydd parhaol ynghylch y pandemic, fe fydd dim wasanaethau yng nghapel Ebeneser, Rhydaman am y tro. Mae’r gweinidog yn cynnal gwasanaeth ar Zoom bob prynhawn dydd Sul a dydd Mercher, ac mae croeso cynnes i unrhyw un ymuno a ni. Os oes gennych ddiddordeb, cysylltwch ac un o’r swyddogion neu’r gweinidog er mwyn ddanfon y manylion. Dymuniadau gorau
i’n haelodau, gan obeithio cawn gwrdd a’n gilydd eto yn fuan. Cadwch yn ddiogel.
Capel Hendre OAP news In a very strange year for us all, the branch, like so many other groups, is unable to meet in person at the moment. Bryn was able to celebrate his 90th birthday recently, whilst Mary and Hugh Hall have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary. There were also a few members’ birthdays in November, and a further three in December, whilst there are a handful of birthdays during January. Best wishes to Audrey Edwards, Hilary Davies, Eirlys Davies and Vicky, who have required hospital care lately, and also to Margaret and John Roberts, who have suffered from Covid. Grateful thanks to Mair Morgan for gathering all the news to keep us all informed. When we will meet again is a good question. Possibly March or April, but members will be kept fully informed. Blwyddyn newydd dda and a safe 2021 to all.
Fifty Club Is anyone interested in joining Ammanford Lions’ Fifty Club? It is being run to pay the administration costs of the club. 100% of fundraising goes to good causes. Fifty Club members pay £48 a year (less than £1 a week), and every month have an opportunity to win £50. If interested in supporting the Lions, or volunteering in any way, please message via social media.