A BRANSTON church will once again be providing a full Christmas Day meal for those in need with help from Burton Albion.
Volunteers at All Saints Church expect around 80 people to drop in for a turkey dinner with all the trimmings. They include people who are homeless, elderly or who are simply alone on December 25.
Burton Albion head chef Adam Stafford pulls together the bulk of the food from the club’s suppliers after receiving a wish list from the church. Today Burton Albion Community Trust delivered the food with the help of manager Nigel Clough and skipper Jake Buxton.
There will be a church service at All Saints at 10.30am on Christmas Day which people are welcome to attend with the meal served at 12.30pm. The church prefers people to book, but says they are still welcome to turn up on the day.
For Luke Jackson it’s a real family affair as his mum Joy does a lot of the organising while his dad Keith is the main chef.
He says: “It starts on Christmas Eve with dad cooking the turkeys and then he’s back in at 6am on Christmas Day and we don’t usually get home until 7pm so it’s hard work but well worth it.
“A lot of the people who come don’t have the usual family Christmas everyone thinks of so we create a big family for them here.
“We want to thank Burton Albion for helping us organise it and to all the people who have made donations and all the volunteers who help out.”
Burton Albion fan Bernard Lawes is one of the people who will be attending.
He said: “The meal is absolutely lovely, and people get a present to take home as well. It’s a really good day and they do a great job for people who would otherwise be on their own.”
Brewers captain Jake Buxton said: “You can take things for granted at this time of year and think everyone is with families and the reality is that’s not the case and there are people who don’t have homes or anyone to share Christmas with. There is an unbelievable effort that goes into organising this and it’s great that the football club and community trust can help in producing days like this that help put smiles on people’s faces on Christmas Day.”
Matt Hancock, Head of Community at BACT, said: “This is a great community effort and we are delighted to play a part in making it happen. I hope all involved have a great Christmas.
With thanks to the following sponsors and donors: Burton Albion FC; Booker Wholesale; Bidfood, Murray’s Funeral Directors, Ian Barker Butchers, GW Price, Avara Foods, Lifestyle Accountancy, Helen’s Bakehouse, Mercury Van Hire and Imran Travel.