Generous support streams in but slow take up of Christmas dinner offer
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CASH donations are rolling in to the Happy Huntly Christmas group who plan to ensure that no one goes without a festive dinner but the response to the offer of a Christmas meal has been slow.
More than a dozen people, co-ordinated by Deveron Projects’ Neep and Okra team and the Huntly centre of the Aberdeenshire North Foodbank are working on a plan which is an alternative to the community lunch on Christmas day which cannot go ahead due to restrictions on gatherings.
But earlier this week, the uptake for either a hamper with all the ingredients, including a gammon to cook at home, or a three course takeaway of soup, turkey and the trimmings and a pudding simply to heat on Christmas day was disappointing.
Only seven hampers had been requested and 14 cooked meals.
The group aim to provide in the region of 30 hampers and meals to as many people as would like them.
Laura McNeil, from the Neep and Okra team is urging people not to feel awkward about asking for help this Christmas.
She said: “We have secured funding made available for this purpose. We want to help people whose Christmas budget can’t quite stretch to cover everything and people on their own who might have gone to the community lunch had it been possible.
“It has been a really tough year for a lot people and the challenges continue. All of us in the group really hope that the offer a meal will be one less worry and we can take away the stress for people.”
Aberdeenshire North Foodbank manager, Debbie Rennie coordinated last year’s lunch and is delighted by the show of support to help people and urges people to take up the offer.
To allow volunteers to co-ordinate requests, anyone who would like either meal option should contact Di Mitchell via her Facebook page, Huntly Toon Gype or on 07710114439 or Carolyn Gatt on 07595601523 by Friday December 4. Callers should leave a message with their number to avoid incurring call costs, and their call will be returned.
Anyone who would like to donate can use the same numbers.
