Caring charity made it a happy Christmas (From Swindon Advertiser)

Caring charity made it a happy Christmas

12:00pm Thursday 29th December 2011 in News By Scott D'Arcy

ORGANISERS have hailed this year’s Christmas Care event the best ever after providing warmth and shelter for scores of homeless and vulnerable people.

The annual project, which was held at Queens Drive Methodist Church, saw volunteers serve Christmas dinners to 58 people and offer many beds from Christmas Eve through until yesterday morning.

The charity appealed for volunteers earlier this year and had a huge response, with 153 people offering to lend a hand on Christmas Day.

Donations of food, bedding and toiletries also poured in.

Chairman Patsy Moloney said he was delighted by how well it went.

“We had homeless people and people from sheltered accommodation come in and I’ve never met nicer people,” he said.

“We served 58 turkey dinners with all the trimmings and they each got a present courtesy of Zurich. They were so thankful.

“We sent them all off in the morning after a cooked breakfast with a pack, including tins of soup and other bits.

“This all started for me in September with getting the church on board and sending out letters.

“It has all been worthwhile – I think this has been the best year ever.

“When there is so much work done and you see people who are going to abuse and insult you then it is difficult, but everyone was brilliant.

“It was a great success and I have never enjoyed myself so much. I don’t think we can improve on it.”

Patsy said he wished to thank those involved in helping put together the event, including the volunteers, Zurich and Coleshill Catering.

He said: “I want to thank the volunteers who were all brilliant.

“We had shifts of volunteers on for four hours at a time from Christmas Eve to yesterday.

“I have to thank Zurich and Coleshill Catering and so many other people, including the Adver, because we wouldn’t have been able to do it without them all.”