THOUSANDS of Sydney-siders who would otherwise be alone for Christmas will spend the festive season celebrating with their communities.
More than 600 people - including a few famous faces - turned out for the Wayside Chapel Christmas lunch in King's Cross.
Blaxland resident Stephen South has attended the lunch and church service for four years.
"I don't have any family and this is my family," Mr South told AAP.
"On a day like today, if you don't have family it's really hard."
The Wayside Chapel's 200 volunteers provided 80 turkeys, 40 hams, 700 mince pies and 140 bags of potatoes for the day.
Actress Claudia Karvan made her third visit to the street party this year, and actor David Wenham attended.
"I can't stay away - it just puts a smile on my face that stays there for the whole day," Karvan said.
"It totally encapsulates the spirit of Christmas, I think.
"The open-heartedness, the generosity of the day, the inclusiveness - everyone from all different walks of the community, whether you're sleeping rough or wealthy and isolated, it doesn't matter, you can come down here."
Between Christmas singing, Wayside chief executive Pastor Graham Long said the day was about people not being alone.
"Don't be alone and miserable," he said.
"Come and be miserable with us."
In Ashfield, more than 3000 people were expected at the Exodus Foundation's free Christmas lunch on Liverpool Road.
Volunteers prepared 65 hams, 50 turkeys, 400 kilograms of potatoes, 200 kilograms of green veggies, 400 kilograms of pumpkins, 1300 litres of gravy, 2500 mini puddings and 330 litres of custard.
"You can imagine, we've been preparing for this for months," Reverend Bill Crews said.
Santa Claus will give presents to needy children and adults.
"All these presents have been donated, which is another example of how generous Sydney-siders are," Rev Crews said.
At Redfern's Australian Technology Park, the Salvation Army hoped to feed 1200 of Sydney's less fortunate and disadvantaged.
"Every year we're humbled by the generosity of the over 150 volunteers who give up part of their Christmas Day to bring joy, hope and happiness to those who would otherwise go without," Salvation Army spokeswoman Robyn Evans said.
Anda sedang membaca artikel tentang
Thousands turn out for community lunches
Dengan url
http://beritasementara.blogspot.com/2013/12/thousands-turn-out-for-community-lunches.html
Anda boleh menyebar luaskannya atau mengcopy paste-nya
Thousands turn out for community lunches
namun jangan lupa untuk meletakkan link
Thousands turn out for community lunches
sebagai sumbernya
0 komentar:
Posting Komentar