Adding sparkle to local Christmas lunches

Lincolnshire Co-op is supporting social inclusion charities and local luncheon clubs until March through its Community Champions scheme. As part of the support, colleagues have brought donations of festive treats and lent a hand at a number of Christmas lunches.

Whether it’s a quick family breakfast or an evening meal with friends, eating with others is a special part of our daily routine. However for older people living alone or in rural places, mealtimes can be particularly lonely.

Luckily, in communities around Lincolnshire and beyond, there are luncheon clubs which provide a place to build friendships and look after each other while enjoying a good meal.

Together with members Lincolnshire Co-op is supporting a number of local luncheon clubs until March, along with social inclusion charities, through its Community Champions scheme.

And as part of this support, Lincolnshire Co-op colleagues have been bringing extra seasonal sparkle to local Christmas lunches in Louth, Sleaford, Long Sutton, Newark, Grimsby, Horncastle and Lincoln with donations of festive treats and by lending a hand.

Often, these Christmas lunches are run by luncheon club volunteers and funded by a charge of just a few pounds per person to cover food and drink.

The weekly Great Hale Luncheon Club in Great Hale, near Sleaford is run by Madge Atkinson (above, centre) and her trusty team of volunteers. Every year they also hold a three-course Christmas lunch, complete with a raffle and festive live music for older people in and around the village. 

Jane King (above left) and Julie Stubley (above right) from Lincolnshire Co-op’s Heckington Food Store, along with colleagues from Head Office in Lincoln, supported this year’s lunch by providing mince pies and helping serve the meal.

Gifts collected through a Santa’s Suitcase appeal by travel colleagues are also being given out to help people smile this Christmas, as part of the Community Champions support.