Over 500 meals to be provided in Bury for those in need this Christmas

Local volunteers in Bury will be providing over 500 meals this Christmas, as the cost of living crisis sees the number of meals required rising.

The team catered for 330 people last year from home deliveries to the drop-in café at Bury Parish Church, at least 200 more people than last year have requested a meal, with more expected in the coming days. 

It’s the seventh year that the meal has been run by Caritas, the social action charity that provides services to improve the lives of people who are in need.

Caritas volunteer, Lisa Lilley said: “Gradually the numbers have just crept up and crept up. I think the first year we did it, we fed 65 people and then last year we sent out 330 meals and 75 children’s toys and we had about 55 people sit down for the meal.”

“We'll be doing this for as long as it’s needed. Unfortunately, it’s sad and it's a shame that it this is needed, but we can't see it changing.” 

A number of different organisations are involved, Bury Parish Church offers the venue free of charge, and without that venue, it would be difficult for the meal to take place. 

Local café bar, Cosalea are also involved, the management first got involved when they were at The Victoria Walshaw five years ago, they provide the Turkey & Pigs in Blankets for the meal, which this year is going to be cooked on their Brandlesholme site starting today (Wednesday). 

Richard Moore, Cosalea’s operations manager said: “I think there is a need to make sure that we look out for the most vulnerable, lonely and isolated in our community and we be seen as a responsible business, which I feel we have done from the start and our days at the Victoria Walshaw and making sure the community is at the heart of everything we do.”  

Parishioners from Our Lady of Grace in Prestwich, St Bernadette's in Whitefield, St Joseph in Ramsbottom have donated food as well as monetary support to food parcels being prepared by the team. 

Children’s gifts have also been donated by Crompton Way Motors in Bolton and Lancashire PE Services, with the charity handing out over 100 toys to children this year, with around 40 vouchers also going to teenagers in need. 

Last year, a JustGiving page was launched and £1,270 was raised to go towards the Christmas meal. Financial donations are also being accepted this year through the #BeeThere appeal, a link to which can be found on the Caritas website. 

Volunteers will be at Bury Parish Church from 10 am on Friday (23rd December) as well as on Christmas Eve & Christmas Day supporting members of the community. Donations of non-perishable items for the food parcels can also be accepted, but the team have requested that they are brought along on Friday in order for them to be packaged in good time for deliveries across the Christmas weekend. 

The sit-down meal will be taking place from 1 pm on Christmas Day at Bury Parish Church, if you or someone you know would like to order a meal, please call the team on 07855306074. Transport can also be provided to the church on Christmas Day if required, again by calling the number above.