More guests, less loneliness

WHILE designed to tug on the heartstrings of potential customers, last year’s John Lewis advertisement did highlight the loneliness that many people feel particularly keenly at Christmas. It focussed on the elderly, but homeless people, asylum seekers, refugees and those living far away from family particularly need to be remembered during the festive season. 

While shoppers, a short distance from the London Jesus Centre, rushed around looking for last minute gifts and others started planning meals for family get togethers, another type of meal was being prepared for the 80 guests at the Jesus Centre Christmas dinner.

This was the biggest turn-out yet and included homeless visitors, ESOL students (many of them asylum seekers) and other Centre users. With a large number of non-English visitors expected, a traditional roast was replaced with beef bourguignon and creamy mash.  The dessert was a chocolate tart and cream.

Crackers popped, conversation flowed, an overflow eating area was improvised in an adjoining lounge and amazingly the food went around everyone. A fun quiz followed for a smaller number of remaining guests. Friendly banter, a sense of good-natured competition and the occasional sneaky google search, led to the prize of a box of chocolates being shared by everyone.

Though reaching a relatively small number of London’s lonely thousands, at least some were given a sense of family and Christmas fun.

More special events, such as curry evenings are planned for 2016.