Mo’s pain at not being able to put on her festive feast for the lonely
A NOTTINGHAM mum-of-two who hosts and delivers a huge Christmas Day lunch for the lonely explained her heartbreak after being unable to find a place to hold it this year.
Mo Fayose, 47, from Basford, has previously hosted a festive lunch at the Self Love Hub, in Bulwell Lane, Bulwell but unfortunately was unable to this year.
Last year, due to Covid measures, Mo and her team of volunteers went out on the road to deliver Christmas dinners to 80 households struggling to attend their annual event.
However, this year the former mental health student nurse will be bringing smiles to dozens of faces in a different way.
She said: “I couldn’t get premises from where I usually go, it’s ridiculous.
“It’s very painful and makes me feel so detached, I wanted to cook where I normally cook.
“It’s unbearable - people are panicking about Covid, it’s more painful than anything.
“I’ll be doing a gift pack for children at accident and emergency at Queen’s Medical Centre and Mansfield hospital.
“It’s so patients will have something on Christmas Day to open.”
Mo will also be delivering gift packages to adult mental health hospitals including Highbury Hospital, Duncan Macmillan House and Duncan Macmillian House.
The gift packs include crayons and a colouring book for the children, snacks, toiletries, body spray and some beauty treatments.
She added: “It’s the things I know they need and I’m not getting people to help me pack because of Covid - I want to reduce any risks.
“It’s very agonising for people during this period.
“I receive messages on how it has cheered the kids up which is lovely.”
Mo gives out gift packages throughout the year and will be continuing it this Christmas Eve, but is hopeful she’ll be able to get back to cooking next year.
She said: “I really hope next year I can. I love doing it, it’s been amazing. I’m just hopeful.”