Hunter volunteers have been busily preparing a feast for Samaritans’ iconic Christmas Lunch in the Park next week.
The hardy helpers, including Lake Macquarie City mayor Adam Shultz, poured into the kitchen at PCYC Windale on Friday, eager to put a smile on locals’ faces on Wednesday 25 December.
It’s expected more than 1,000 people will benefit from the meal, crafted under the watchful eye of chef Jonathan Heath.
Now in its 24th year, Christmas Lunch in the Park is the region’s largest and longest-running Christmas Day event.
And, it’ll return to the Newcastle Foreshore Railway Carriage Shed between 10am and 2pm.
Samaritans president Bishop Peter Stuart said the charity had been making a difference in other’s lives for the past four decades.
“Our Newcastle lunch is the only one of its kind in the Hunter, helping to ensure fewer people spend Christmas Day alone,” he explained.
“We rely on the support of volunteers like Jonathan and organisations such as Lake Macquarie City Council to help us provide a festive Christmas lunch experience to those in need.”
Chef Jonathan carves 25 full leg hams into slices before weighing and packaging them into containers ready for distribution on the day.
He also prepares a variety of side dishes, including more than 1,000 tubs each of potato salad and coleslaw.
“I am very proud to be involved in this wonderful community event, where I can play a small part in providing food for those in need,” he said.
Cr Shultz admitted council was thrilled to assist Samaritans ahead of the large-scale event, too.
“Samaritans does a fantastic job helping people in need throughout our community… and we are proud to give a little bit back wherever we can,” he said.
“We partnered with them again this year for the Mayor’s Christmas Appeal.
“So, we were only too happy to get into the kitchen on Friday to lend a hand.
“I’d urge anyone who can manage it this festive season to also get on board right across Lake Macquarie and donate to Samaritans so they can give families doing it tough something to celebrate this Christmas.”
For more community stories:
- What’s open and closed over Christmas in Newcastle and the Hunter
- HSC high achiever Tegan Taylor finds ‘the right balance’
- Callaghan student rockets to ATAR success
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