An Arbroath woman has sacrificed Christmas Day at home with her family to make sure others in her community are in good company and well fed.
Kerry Swankie has embraced the Christmas spirit by hosting a festive get-together at CAFE Project in Arbroath on Christmas Day. Hot food will be served from noon to 2pm, giving people who are alone a chance to spend some time with others.
“It doesn’t matter if you’re a millionaire,” said Kerry.
“If you’re alone on Christmas you’re invited.
“I only came to the idea last week and already I’ve got pretty much everything done. It’s not going to be a soup kitchen as such, but it will be a place for people who may be spending Christmas Day alone to come in for a few hours, have some food and a chat.”
Kerry, 38, works as an admissions adviser at Dundee and Angus College and was inspired to organise the event by a colleague who had taken on a similar challenge last year.
She used Facebook to ask for advice on where to hold the afternoon lunch and for help pulling the many strings of her plans together.
Within a week, her idea was almost complete and the mother of two said she has been left “overwhelmed” by the response from the community.
“I have never done anything like this before and it has been manic but I have also been really overwhelmed by the number of people that have offered their services,” she said.
“I’m a bit of an emotional wreck now organising it but I’m happy and just delighted by the level of generosity from people. My Facebook has never stopped.
“I came to the CAFE Project through Facebook and they are helping by letting us use the facility. They are giving it to us for no charge so any excess we have will go back to them.
“My friends and I had a meeting to look at the final details and we’re pretty much all sorted.
“It’s heart-warming to see everyone pulling together. I can’t believe the amount of people that are willing to help and everyone wants to do something.
“They are all willing to help and have been so supportive.”
Alongside the food and friendliness, Kerry is hoping to be able to provide a bag of shopping for each visitor and a raffle for shopping vouchers.
She hopes the giveaways will help ease the strain and financial burden families can often feel over the festive season.
Derek Wann, adviser to the board of the CAFE Project said: “We have had a lot of good publicity recently and we are always willing to help the community.
“It is a community facility and they have helped the CAFE Project over the past few months so it’s good to give something back.”
Kerry added there is no booking required but can be contacted on 07873 179170 for further information.