Smile Brigade volunteers preparing Christmas lunches in 2019
Local charity UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham (now https://hfgiving.org.uk/) and the council are asking for your help in providing a hot Christmas meal to more than 700 older residents who might otherwise go without this Christmas.
We’re trying to raise £28,000 to pay for this – and any amount big or small will make a huge difference.
We’re also looking for volunteers to help deliver the lunch in Christmas week.
“Although sadly we can’t invite residents to join us in person for their Christmas dinner again this year, we want to ensure nobody is left out,” said Cllr Ben Coleman, H&F Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.
“Last year, residents’ generosity meant we delivered an amazing 500 Christmas lunches to residents spending Christmas alone. This year, our target is 700. Any money or time you can give would be hugely appreciated."
Two in five H&F residents over the age of 60 live alone.
Each Big Christmas Lunch will include a quality, slap-up hot meal cooked by a professional chef from our community, accompanied by a gift bag full of goodies
They will be delivered by a friendly face to residents in time for Christmas day – come rain, snow or shine.
Each donation will make a difference
The Big H&F Christmas Lunch brings our community together to help each other. It relies on the generosity of local people, businesses and charities.
Here’s how your donation will make a difference:
- £200 will pay for five Christmas packages of a delicious lunch and a gift bag
- £40 will pay for one Christmas package of lunch and gifts
- £15 will pay for one Christmas lunch
Or contact Savraj Kaur, executive director of UNITED in Hammersmith & Fulham at team@unitedhf.org
Want to volunteer?
The H&F Big Christmas Lunch wouldn’t be possible without the help of local charity The Smile Brigade and its team of volunteers.
They’re asking for extra volunteers to help deliver lunches from 21 December up to Christmas Day on the 25th. Deliveries can be made by foot, bike or car – however you like.
The Smile Brigade are also looking for volunteers to help write Christmas cards and make festive hampers. Full PPE and volunteer guidelines will be provided and followed.
To volunteer, please visit The Smile Brigade volunteering page or email: hello@thesmilebrigade.org
Give a present for the gift bags
We also need presents of soaps, shower gels, toothpaste and toilet roll, warm socks, thermal vests, hats and scarfs. Christmas crackers, non-perishable food items, as well as fruit, vegetables, stuffing, gravy, chocolates, Christmas puddings and mince pies, would also be welcomed.
All gifts should be new and unwrapped and will help create a merrier Christmas for elderly residents spending it on their own.
To volunteer or donate a present to make someone else’s Christmas special, please fill in the volunteer sign up form (Google Forms).
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