Belfast Charity Bridges Divides with 600 Christmas Dinners
In a heartwarming display of community spirit, a West Belfast charity is preparing to deliver 600 Christmas dinners to families across the city, bridging the gap between traditionally divided neighborhoods.
The initiative, spearheaded by Foodstock, a community hub in Andersonstown, involves not only the festive meals but also hundreds of food parcels and toys, ensuring a brighter christmas for those struggling financially.
The culinary effort behind this massive undertaking is remarkable. Lily’s kitchen and bar in Glenavy, Co Antrim, worked late into the night preparing the meals. ”Staff worked until 11pm last night cooking Christmas meals and were back from 6am this morning to pack 600 portions of turkey, mashed potato, carrots, sprouts and gravy,” a spokesperson shared.
Restaurant owner Liam Cullen, inspired by Foodstock’s online appeal, generously donated the meals. “As a family, our parents are working-class parents, and my mother passed away a few years ago,” Cullen explained. “She always believed in helping people in need, so we felt that it was a perfect opportunity. The staff have enjoyed doing something for people in need, and that’s what it’s all about.”
The meals, carefully packed and transported, arrived at the Foodstock hub, where they were stored until their delivery across West Belfast on Christmas Day. The reach of this initiative is truly extraordinary, encompassing areas from Gort Na Móna to glencairn estate, and from the Falls Road to the Shankill Road.
“This really is a community effort,” said Paul Doherty, Foodstock’s founder. “We’re reaching across the entire community, showing that it’s about one community pulling together at Christmas to make sure that no one is left behind. We’ve had a tremendous response from right across the whole community of west Belfast coming and saying they’d like to look out for a family or someone in their street struggling because of the death of a loved one.”
The charity emphasizes that poverty and loneliness affect people from all walks of life. “It doesn’t matter what part of west Belfast you are from, people are struggling to put food on their table, people are struggling to heat their homes,” Mr. Doherty explains. “Christmas can be a very happy time for so many people, but it’s also a very challenging time for a lot of people.We’re just doing what we can to allow people to enjoy Christmas with some dignity.”
Beyond the Christmas dinners, Foodstock is also distributing hundreds of food parcels and toys, all thanks to donations from schools, businesses, community groups, and individuals across West Belfast. While heartened by the generosity, Foodstock acknowledges the growing need for such assistance, highlighting the ongoing struggle faced by many in the community.
