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Centre cooks up Christmas meal for homeless people
By Stephanie CockroftDecember 23, 2011
HOMELESS people were treated to a festive feast thanks to a day centre in Aldershot.
Nearly 50 people who have been sleeping rough turned out for a three-course Christmas lunch, and there were crackers and individual gifts donated by local businesses.
The event, at Aldershot Baptist Church and paid for by Barclays Bank, was organised by the Vine Day Centre, which cares for the homeless in Aldershot and Farnborough.
With help from volunteers, kitchen manager Bob McDonough whipped up a feast that included turkeys donated and prepped by Emily’s Farm.
Centre manager Susie Porter said: “We are thankful for the generosity of local businesses and the kindness of so many people.
"Our clients have had a real struggle and this kind of celebration lets them know there are many people out there who have not forgotten them.”
Susie said six of the Vine’s clients had died this year, and she urged people to support the charity to prevent those statistics getting even worse.
The Vine has been getting busier as the cold weather has set in. Senior support worker Yvette Dean said this highlighted the critical need for homes.
She said: “There are a large number of empty properties in Rushmoor and it is frustrating that we are struggling so much to house our homeless.
“As it gets colder, we have real concerns for the health, and indeed the lives, of some of our street sleepers.”
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