Emmaus solidarity activities spread Christmas cheer
Emmaus Communities around the country will be spreading Christmas Cheer this year by organising local events for people who might otherwise be isolated or struggling.
The Emmaus Coventry Community is hosting an event on 29th December for service users at MIND, a charity for people with mental health problems. Companions (as Community residents are known) will be preparing and serving lunch and running a disco. One Companion will also be working as a volunteer driver for MIND on Christmas day.
A number of Coventry Companions and staff are also volunteering at the local Open Christmas, which provides shelter and a hot evening meal for a week over Christmas for people who are homeless, vulnerable or lonely.
“As a Community we decided that we wanted to allocate a day over the Christmas period to Solidarity”, explains General Manager Vicki Urch. “We decided to provide what we hope will be a fun event to the users of MIND. Many of the Companions who have decided to volunteer have said that they are doing so because they know what its like to be 'out there' at Christmas and they want to give something back.”
The Bristol and Leeds Communities are both hosting festive lunches for local pensioners. Emmaus Bristol started running the event three years ago after a local social club closed down, leaving elderly people without a Christmas celebration.
This year, Companions will cook lunch for 18 pensioners, Santa Claus will be handing out gifts, local businesses have donated raffle prizes and pupils from the Hannah More Primary School will be singing Christmas Carols.
“It’s about being good neighbours”, says Mike Poole of Emmaus Bristol. “Before Emmaus opened here, residents were a bit worried about what we would be like. But now people see we’re really committed to being part of this community and giving something back. We’ve had some lovely thank you cards from people who’ve come in previous years. They really seem to appreciate it”.
In London, staff and Companions from the South Lambeth Community will be volunteering at the Crisis at Christmas event and Emmaus Colchester will be providing gifts of toiletries, sweets and socks to 23 young people at a local hostel for 18-25 year-olds. Emmaus Gloucestershire will be supporting the local Day Centre on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day and two Companions will be wrapping presents for Santa to take to the local Children’s hospital.
More information
Picture above: Santa puts in an appearance at last year's lunch for pensioners at Emmaus Bristol
Published on 10th December, 2009
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