Community Charity Organizes Christmas Dinner Deliveries

This year, a community initiative will facilitate the delivery of Christmas dinners, targeting individuals who may be spending the holiday alone. Volunteers associated with the IP17 Good Neighbour Scheme, located in Saxmundham, Suffolk, have been preparing traditional festive meals in advance. These meals are designed to be defrosted and reheated by recipients on Christmas Day. This marks the inaugural occasion that these Christmas dinners have been prepared and dispatched from the charity’s recently established headquarters at The Gannon Rooms within the town. The organization, dedicated to addressing issues of food poverty and loneliness, has secured approximately 80 meal orders. These meals are scheduled for delivery on Christmas Day morning by volunteers, who will be attired in elf costumes. Michelle Frost, the service manager at IP17 GNS, stated: “This will be the first year we have prepared the meals and delivered them from our new base. “We cook a heat-at-home hearty Christmas meal including pudding, sides and added treats and on Christmas morning a cheery volunteer will deliver it to people.” She further added: “On the day we will be playing Christmas music and little elves will be very busy around here so there will be a lovely atmosphere.” Frost also mentioned: “We also have emergency food parcel boxes so if people are really struggling we are able to offer those or refer people on to the foodbank itself.” The charity was established during the initial Covid lockdown period with the aim of assisting residents in Saxmundham, Kelsale, and Benhall. It has since expanded its offerings to include a broader spectrum of support and activities. Additionally, through its social supermarket scheme, which operates on Tuesday mornings, the organization supplies food and essential household items at subsidized rates to residents facing difficulties with bill payments.