Wisbech Town Council set to dish up festive cheer with Christmas dinner this December 25
Councillors and volunteers are aiming to serve up a taste of festive cheer with a traditional dinner for up to 90 people this Christmas Day.
Wisbech Town Council has recently partnered with the town's Salvation Army to provide an additional hot meal service for those in need in the town.
The extra serving takes place at the Salvation Army headquarters in John Thompson Road on a Saturday and is additional to the Tuesday and Thursday night meals already provided by the charity.
Feed Fenland Group provide meals on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays which means with the town council Saturday night session there is now help available six nights a week in Wisbech..
On top of that and in response to the growing cost of living crisis and concerns about the homeless in the area Wisbech Town Council has stepped in to help provide Christmas dinner also with the help of the Salvation Army.
Councillor Steve Tierney, who was among a group of town councillors to carry out a fact finding mission by attending one of the Salvation Army's regular Thursday night servings ahead of the council offering funding for the Saturday night meal, said: "There is a growing group of councillors, their families and volunteers who are going to give up their Christmas Day to work with the Salvation Army to cook and serve Christmas dinner for up to 90 people.
"The town council will be funding it with the help of some funding from Fenland District Council. The meal, which will be a traditional roast, although the final menu is still being drawn up, is not just for the homeless or those in financial difficulties, but also for those who might not have anybody else to spend Christmas Day with.
"Volunteers will be working on Christmas Eve in preparation and then during the day preparing and delivering a nice Christmas lunch, under the guidance of Brenda Barber who is a former professional cook, at the Salvation Army Hall on John Thompson Road, Wisbech.
"We have already had a really great response with nearly half the places already gone, so we know it is something that is really needed."
People need to register for a place to allow for catering and Coun Tierney said: "Although anyone is welcome, we are really wanting to provide this for those who are alone, finding Christmas exceptionally tight this year, or are homeless. Booking is important, but I'm sure we would be able to squeeze one or two more in if people turn up on the day.
"Anyone wanting to come needs to know there will be no judgment just a warm welcome and a hot meal."
In the meantime the councillors will continue to volunteer their time on Saturday nights to serve the extra hot meals with the aim of eventually taking over running the session from the Salvation Army.
"We are still learning the ropes, but the hope is for the town council to take over running the sessions on a Saturday night so the Salvation Army people can have a well-earned rest. There are a number of councillors who have already agreed to do it including myself, Sam Hoy, Peter Human, his wife Janet and the mayor Susan Wallwork. We won't all be doing every Saturday but we will be turning out regularly to it," said Coun Tierney.
To book your Christmas dinner place contact: 01945 461416.