A group of Barking and Dagenham residents are appealing for donations to help make this Christmas special for homeless and elderly people in the borough.
Members of the Nightingale Angels UK group have organised a festive feast with turkey and the trimmings, at the Relish restaurant in Barking Town Square from midday to 3 pm on Christmas Day.
Ahead of the meal, the group has been collecting donations towards their mission and have raised more than £500 to date in addition to receiving food from Morrisons in Wood Lane, Dagenham.
As well as covering the cost of the food for the meal, the money raised will help to buy gifts and cover overnight stays in B&B’s for those in need who would otherwise be spending their Christmas sleeping in car parks, shop fronts and stairwells.
With the shops closed on Christmas Day, people on the streets will often go without food for the day. The group is hoping to be able to help around 100 people in need.
Volunteer Yasmin Gozenler thanked everyone who had donated to date, she said: “It will make a huge difference because not everybody has family nearby. These people will be spending Christmas alone on the streets. This will bring everyone together and lift their spirits.”
You can donate to this fantastic cause at https://uk.gofundme.com/f/raising-money-to-feed-homeless-on-christmas-day or alternatively search for Nightingale Angels UK on Facebook for more information on the group.