Free feasts on offer to help beat Christmas loneliness
CHRISTMAS is a time of the year most people look forward to – but for some it can be a time they dread.
Whether homeless or living on their own, many people can spend Christmas Day completely alone.
Thankfully, a number of places across Wales will be opening their doors on December 25 to make sure that those who are lonely don’t spend the occasion on their own.
Here’s a list of some places offering free Christmas Day dinners...
SWANSEA
St Stephen’s Church in Port Tennant will open its doors from noon to 2.30pm on Christmas Day.
There will be a free Christmas dinner, entertainment and even free return transport home.
Reverend Steven Bunting said: “We don’t want anyone to be alone or struggling on Christmas Day. You can be young or old, children or not children, it doesn’t matter. No questions asked.
“Come and join us for a Christmas meal and film and we will make sure you get home safe.”
Contact the church on 01792 455671 to arrange your free pick-up.
A four-course dinner is also being served in Teilo’s Community Cwtch in Portmead on Christmas Day. With the help of local chef Marc Thomas, Kathryn Charles, Nick Griffiths and a group of volunteers will prepare hundreds of dinners for people on their own.
They will offer soup, a traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, coffee and a mince pie or a mini stollen.
Ms Charles said: “This is our third year of providing a free Christmas dinner for people on their own on Christmas Day.
“The first year was a small event organised by Marc, who has spent many Christmases alone. Last year, myself and Nick got involved and the three of us organised a bigger event in Clydach.”
LLANELLI
The Salvation Army in Llanelli has been offering Christmas lunch for a number of years and this year is no different.
Volunteers get together to prepare the dinner for those who would otherwise be alone on Christmas Day.
Two years ago Major Denise Cooper had her first experience of spending Christmas with the Salvation Army.
“It started as a way to help people at Christmas – those who are alone or have no family. It’s important that people are not at home alone at Christmas,” she said at the time.