Volunteers bring festive cheer to homeless
MOST people spend Christmas Day with their friends and loved ones, digging into festive treats and enjoying a day when normal life is put on hold.
Yet across Wales, some people have given up their precious family time to ensure that those without a home don’t miss out on the chance to sit down for a few hours and enjoy a festive feast.
This year they have included hotels, restaurants and takeaways like the Victoria Fish Bar in Whitchurch, Cardiff.
Among them is the 22-bed Huggard hostel and day centre for the homeless on the city’s Dumballs Road which opens its doors during Christmas Day, thanks to volunteers, so that 60 homeless people can have a festive dinner.
Kitchen staff, led by Louise Morris and her volunteers, worked hard since the early hours of the morning to prepare a hot meal for everyone.
The staff were in jolly moods as they sang along to Mariah Carey and said they were enjoying their time there yesterday.
Khaleel Alale, 30, from Riverside, Cardiff, works at the Huggard as a development officer, but came in on his day off to help out with the big festive feed.
He said: “I don’t celebrate Christmas but my religion teaches me to help and show compassion to those who need it so that’s why I’m here today.
“Some of my colleagues do celebrate Christmas but they’re here helping out so I just want to come and do my bit.”
Another volunteer at the Huggard is Kal Corcoran, 52, from Splott, Cardiff, who has volunteered for the last three years at the centre.
He said: “When my children were younger it was different because you would want to spend time with them and open presents but now they’re older, I don’t need to be there in the morning.
“I’ve come here to help out with what I can because people end up here for all sorts of reasons. I have also suffered with mental health issues and it’s only then that you realise what some people go through and why they end up in these situations.
“Luckily for me, I’ve got a family and I’m going to spend the rest of the day with them but some people don’t have that. It’s good to help out where you can.”
John Gould, 24, has been homeless for around two months in Cardiff.
He said: “I wanted to volunteer because I know what all of these guys are going through. It’s nice to be able to give something back and I know exactly what it’s like to be in their position.
“I don’t mind what I do, I’ve been helping prepare food in the kitchen and now I’m in charge of the cakes so it should be a good day.”
Alin Hill, and his partner Chantelle, both 27, were homeless for around five months in Cardiff and met each other during this time. He is now working as a carpenter.
Alin, who came back to have lunch and catch up with old friends, said: “I’m not homeless anymore but I was until around two months ago. A lot of the people here are friends of mine that I made so I thought it would be nice to come down.”