Hampers for a happy Christmas Picture: Supplied
THE Chelsea Community Christmas Lunch has been putting smiles on faces for four consecutive years, but the COVID-19 pandemic meant that it could not go ahead in 2020.
Although the lunch had to be cancelled, volunteers remained dedicated to the cause of making Christmas Day a happy one for people doing it tough.
On Christmas Day, volunteers delivered hampers to nearly 50 regular attendees of the lunch.
The hampers contained donated gifts, toiletries, and groceries.
Regular lunch attendee Lee had his day brightened when he was visited and given a hamper. “Without you guys I wouldn’t have had a Christmas! The visit from you guys on Christmas Day this year absolutely made my day,” he said about the volunteers.
The Salvation Army in Paris continued to offer its services in November and December, including rent assistance, a bread line and soup kitchen and a mental health crisis hotline.
Reverend Blythe Cody stands with the Christmas tree at St Peter’s Cathedral. Reverend Blythe Cody said they sold 200 tickets and estimated an additional 30 people would dine. That’s on top of the 60 volunteers working hard behind closed doors. Cody anticipated record numbers at this year s event. “It is for anyone who would otherwise spend the day alone,” she said. “We’ve had people who haven’t come to the lunch before… and people are asking for help who haven’t had to ask for help before.”
TOM LEE/STUFF
Liz Phillips was part of the choir at the Community Lunch. She stands with Dean Wendy Scott.
Community Christmas Meal for Naperville seniors and families in need expands this year This year s Christmas luncheon, hosted by the YMCA and Naperville Park District, is safely continuing the tradition by doing home delivery of meals. They are still accepting donations as about 260 people have registered to receive a meal this year. Daily Herald File Photo
Updated 12/21/2020 1:04 PM
The YMCA and Naperville Park District, through the generous support of community donors and volunteers, are continuing the annual tradition of providing a special Christmas meal for Naperville seniors and families in need this year, although by home meal delivery instead of a luncheon event.
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Subscriber only FOR Warwick residents battling loneliness, money troubles, or displacement, Christmas can be a time of hardship rather than joy and festivity. This year, one Rose City family wants to make a difference. The Community Christmas Lunch, headed up by sisters Kathryn Goldspink and Suzette Benz, invites anyone without the means to truly celebrate a place to come together. After starting the initiative in 2015 but having to cancel the next few years due to family difficulties, Kathryn knew the hardships of 2020 would make this year s event more important than ever. There s being lonely or down in the dumps on a normal day, but when you re sitting at home on Christmas with nobody around you, it s just the worst feeling in the world, Kathryn said.