Many homeless and vulnerable people lined Trafalgar Street in Newcastle to enjoy a Christmas street party hosted by People's Kitchen.
The event gathered together the People’s Kitchen volunteers with their 'friends’ to enjoy a hot meal, some festive music and an appearance from the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Newcastle Upon Tyne, Cllr Ian Graham and Mrs Margaret Graham.
Volunteers served up a hot meal for the homeless
People's kitchen also celebrated their 30th anniversary with a large homemade cake, shared with the city homeless and vulnerable. The evening brought smiles and Christmas cheer to everyone’s faces as they sang along to Christmas carols on the projector and enjoyed the appearance of a jazz band.
Chairman of People's Kitchen, Newcastle, Bob Eldridge, said: "The Christmas street party is a way of showing our friends how much we care and most importantly it's helping them to get some sort of normality into their lives.
“Everyone is celebrating Christmas but for many it's just another day. The party lets our friends escape their environment for a few hours and gives them the opportunity to join in Christmas like everyone else."
The People’s Kitchen provides a unique service for the homeless and vulnerable people of Newcastle. Food is served in the kitchen on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday evenings and on the streets Monday and Thursdays -- a breakfast service is also served on Sundays.
Some friends of the charity shared their story, such as Steve, 48, who is a freegan on the streets of Newcastle.
He said: "Everything I own and have on me right now I did not pay a penny for. I raid the bins and streets of Newcastle to provide for myself and I find the students are very good to me."
The charity's efforts were recognised at the highest level in 2014 when they were presented with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Mr Eldridge added: “The Kitchen relies 100 per cent on donations of food and money. No one is on a payroll - everyone is a volunteer and there is no government funding.
“More than 1,100 local sources donate money and food every year and every donation, large or small, matters and is put to good use.”
To find out more about People’s Kitchen visit their website at: http://www.peopleskitchen.co.uk/. To donate money visit their justgiving web page at: justgiving.com/thepeopleskitchennewcastle.
