Packing Christmas hampers (photo: Surviving Christmas).

No need to be alone this Christmas

Earlier today I bumped into big-hearted Kevin of the Community, writes HOT’s Zelly Restorick – a man who always seems to be doing something for someone somewhere – and he told me about what’s happening in the town this Christmas ‘so that no-one needs to be alone if they don’t want to be’. 

The lovely people at The Union Bar (formerly The Tubman) are opening their doors to everyone for their ‘No-one should be alone at Christmas II’ event. A free Christmas dinner will be offered to anyone in need between 3 and 5pm on Christmas Day. Last year, Kevin told me there were songs and a fantastic feeling of togetherness, so don’t be alone if you don’t want to be, go along and join the festivities. The Union Bar is at 57 Cambridge Road, Hastings (01424 420074).

If you’d like to donate non-perishable goods, socks and/or wash kits, please contact The Union Bar or  drop them off at The Seaview Project on Hatherley Road in St Leonards (01424 717981), who will be distributing your gifts.

You can also donate money to The Seaview Project via this link.

And the good people of Surviving Christmas have once again organised their ‘Open Christmas’ for three days at the YMCA (25–27 December at The Y Centre, St Paul’s Road, St Leonards). Food vouchers will also be available for individuals or households, plus hampers will be put together for families or the elderly in need.

Chef Adam gets to work (photo: Surviving Christmas).

Surviving Christmas is a local charity dedicated to local people, offering solace at a time of year that can be very distressing or lonely for some. If you’d like to volunteer, make a financial donation or donate some non-perishable food, clothing, toiletries or small gifts, please contact them via their website or call on 01424 424138 or 07599 556138.

Surviving Christmas is a local charity dedicated to local people, offering solace at a time of year that can be very distressing or lonely for some. Last year more than 1,500 local families received food vouchers or a hamper and 450 attended the three-day event. This year the charity is expecting larger numbers to apply for assistance.

Surviving Christmas receives financial help from various local companies and individuals, in addition to grants from the council which this year totalled £4,000. In the run-up to Christmas it has several fund-raising events arranged at Priory Meadow shopping centre, Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s.

If you’d like to volunteer, make a financial donation or donate some non-perishable food, clothing, toiletries or small gifts, please contact Surviving Christmas via their website or call on 01424 424138 or 07599 556138.

Xtrax will also be providing Christmas dinner for some of the young people it helps with advice and facilities. They are also experiencing growing numbers using their services, and expect to feed around 25 this Christmas Day. These meals are sponsored by local company PrimeSigns.

Xtrax and Surviving Christmas recently held a joint pub quiz at Walkers cocktail bar which raised £1,000.

Please spread the word about these events, so that those who need to know get to hear the news. Thanking you muchly!

Do you know of other Christmas events of this nature?
Please write a comment below.

* Read an excellent article on Surviving Christmas by Bohemia Village Voice here.

Additional material by Nick Terdre.

Also in: Home Ground