Serving up a merry Christmas for all
The holiday period may be a joyful season for some but unfortunately it’s a time of sadness and struggle for those living socially isolated lives, or struggling to make ends meet.
Luncheon Club founder Carole Ann King said it can be a difficult time for people living with HIV/AIDS, which is why the organisation is busy at this time of year.
The majority of our clients don’t have any family so therefore it’s a lonely time, there’re living in poverty and struggling to survive on the pension. There’s not a lot of good cheer and goodwill, she said.
We get phone calls up right until Christmas Eve. Sometimes we get a call from a social worker saying someone has been released from hospital and they have no food. We always have done and always will do that last-minute delivery and catering.
Each year the Luncheon Club client base grows up by 20 percent.
Overall it works out that we have a net growth of 15 percent because, sadly, we have a five percent death rate per annum, Luncheon Club Larder manager Justin Bash said.
We lost a lot of clients in the past six months. It’s been the biggest decrease since the early 1990s -“ it’s very depressing.
This Christmas the charity is calling on people to donate food items or money to help stock its Christmas hampers.
If you can spare Christmas puddings, cakes, tinned fruit, biscuits and other non-perishable food items, they are exactly what the Luncheon Club would like you to donate.
The Luncheon Club is holding a Christmas lunch on Monday 17 December at which JBear will be performing. Another lunch has been scheduled for Wednesday 19 December to help cater for demand.
It’s going to be our 14th Christmas lunch in a row and the atmosphere is amazing. We have Bev Kennedy and Aunty Mavis, who will sing some Christmas carols as well, Carole Ann said.
Santa makes an appearance and he makes sure that no one leaves without a present.
For many, the hampers are going to be the only thing they get so please donate.
For any donations, please check out the website on www.luncheonclub.org.au or email [email protected]. You can also leave donations at the SSO office, Level 3, 21 Oxford St, Darlinghurst (above Subway on the corner of Brisbane St).
