Homelessness charity supporters enjoy free festive lunch

Homelessness charity Emmaus Mossley hosted a free festive lunch for the local community and supporters to round off its 25th anniversary year.

Emmaus Mossley organised The Big Lunch at Christmas to bring people together for a shared lunch.

Everyone was invited to bring a dish to share and Emmaus donated and prepared food and cakes for attendees to enjoy free of charge.

Emmaus Mossley supports 26 formerly homeless people by providing them with a home, work, companionship and individual support.

At the event, Emmaus companions – people supported by the charity – joined volunteers, staff and supporters to chat together and enjoy the food on offer.

Emma Hall, companion at Emmaus Mossley, cooked and prepared much of the food for the event.

She said: “It was nice for the community to come together at this time of year to share some food.

"It was well worth it, all good fun and I really enjoyed getting everyone else involved and seeing everyone together.”

Emmaus Mossley has teamed up with Eden Project Communities to host a number of Big Lunch events over the past few years.

Every June, The Big Lunch brings millions of people together to share friendship, food and fun as the UK’s annual celebration for neighbours and communities.

It’s a simple idea that has a lasting positive impact on those who take part.

Hazel Hodkinson, Retail Manager at Emmaus Mossley, said: “Our final Big Lunch of 2022 was a great event and the perfect opportunity to thank our supporters at the end of our busy 25th anniversary year.

"We love hosting The Big Lunch events as it’s a great way to bring everyone together for food, conversations and good fun.”

The Big Lunch at Christmas is about sharing food and friendship with people in your community over the festive season.

It’s a busy time of year, but for some, it can feel quite lonely, so taking the time to say hello to a neighbour over a shared meal is a great way to keep connected and celebrate our communities at Christmas.

For more information about The Big Lunch, visit: www.thebiglunch.com

To find out more and support Emmaus Mossley, click here

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