Horowhenua StarPeople living in Salvation Army Social Housing (SASH) were treated to a special Christmas dinner at the Salvation Army Hall in Durham Street on Wednesday night.
Levin resident Roger Watkins approached local businesses for food and shoulder-tapped some associates living at Speldhurst Country Estate to help in the kitchen – even Father Christmas made a visit.
Speldhurst residents, from left, Jude Atkins, Pete Gillett, Roger Watkins, Mike Cashmore, Marion Nicholson, Sheryl Watkin and Mike Whalen joined other volunteers in helping prepare the meals. Photo Paul Williams
They helped prepare meals as people and families were seated to a menu of ham and turkey with mixed vegetables and gravy in a hall decorated with Christmas lights.
Roger was a driving force behind a similar Christmas event for years while living in Porirua. He’s been living in Levin for a year now and wanted to hold an event here for people that might not otherwise have a Christmas dinner.
More than 100 invitations were sent out, and 65 meals were prepared followed by carol singing to a brass band.
“The big thing is the community gets behind it with food donations and sponsorship,” he says.
The event in Porirua is still going, targeted at people aged more than 70, and Roger is still involved there too with more than 200 people attending.
“It’s something you get a buzz from. I do. It brings people together,” he says.
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