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Around 100 volunteers will take a break from their own Christmas Day festivities this month to lend a hand at the Hibiscus Coast Christmas Lunch.
From 12 noon onwards, members of the Salt Community Trust and Northgate Baptist Church will be slicing hams, basting chickens and serving pavlova to people who might not otherwise get to partake in Christmas dinner.
The event is held at the Orewa Community Centre, 368 Hibiscus Coast Highway, on Christmas Day, from 11.30am until 2pm. There is no charge and no reservation is necessary.
Lunch Coordinator and Salt Community Trust programme manager, Heidi Versey, says the lunch is open to anyone who wants to share in some Christmas cheer. In previous years, between 100 and 180 people have attended.
“Christmas so often these days seems to be about ‘me, me, me’ and getting more so,” Heidi says. “It’s nice to have the opportunity to see a different side to Christmas, to be able to give back to our community and to share a bit of Christmas joy with those who maybe are without family, or who are new to the area or country. People come along for many different reasons and it’s just great to feel like you are part of something bigger.
“It’s a wonderful event, very relaxed and just a joy to be part of.”
The centre will be decorated for the occasion and the menu includes ham, chicken and hot roast vegetables, and delicious desserts.
“It’s a fantastic spread, all prepared by hard working volunteers in the kitchen.”
Heidi says that organisers rely on local churches and businesses to fund the lunch.
Pak N Save is an integral part of supplying the food and Auckland Council provides the centre free of charge.
“So it’s very much a community venture.”
Anyone who would like to make a financial donation to the lunch, should contact the Salt Community Trust at salttrust.org.nz
