A Swindon charity that feeds those less fortunate during Christmas is asking for help to keep doing it this year.

Christmas Care - which has been operating in Swindon for over three decades - is appealing to the generous community of Swindon to help by donating food

The charity needs fresh and tinned/frozen food to provide meals and hospitality for the town’s homeless and vulnerable residents.

It will be holding donation day on Saturday, December 23 from 10-2pm at The Haven which is next to the Ambulance Station on Queen's Drive. 

Christmas Care provides hot, home-cooked breakfasts, lunches and early evening snacks over the Christmas period when many other support services are closed.

Also closed are many of the places - eg, libraries - where the homeless often spend the days to keep warm.

Last year Christmas Care served 180 lunches over the period they were open and around 900 hot and cold drinks. This year, the Christmas Care project will run for six days from Christmas Eve.

A spokesperson for the organisation said: "To make this possible we have 90 volunteers, working in shifts, who are all giving up time over the festive season to bring some cheer to people who are less fortunate than themselves.

"To support their efforts, the charity is seeking donations of a variety of food supplies to create delicious, home-cooked meals for our guests. Every contribution, however large or small, makes a difference."

Some suggested items include tea bags, coffee, sugar, fresh milk, and drinking chocolate.

For breakfast it is asking for hash browns; bacon; sausages; eggs; sliced bread; butter/margarine; baked beans; spreads - peanut butter, jam.

Then for lunch fresh veg, including potatoes; cook-in sauces & pasta sauces; table sauces - tomato ketchup, brown sauce, mayonnaise

Finally for the snacks & evening meal the charity could use savoury snacks; sandwich fillers - eg, tinned tuna, cheese; crisps; biscuits, meat, fish, soups, veg, fruit festive foods and treats: cake; mince pies and chocolates

John Jensen, chairman of Christmas Care, said: "Swindon residents have always been really supportive of our Christmas Homeless project" 

"Our guests really appreciate the home-cooked meals and little creature comforts that we can give them, from the donations we receive. They all look forward to the few days respite we provide over the festive period.”