A Stratford-upon-Avon restaurant is spreading some festive cheer to elderly people who are set to spend Christmas alone in the form of hampers packed with Yuletide food.Loxleys, on Sheep Street, is...
A Stratford-upon-Avon restaurant is spreading some festive cheer to elderly people who are set to spend Christmas alone in the form of hampers packed with Yuletide food.
Loxleys, on Sheep Street, is putting together 15 hampers packed with festive goodies to be distributed to local senior citizens who may be facing Christmas Day on their own or who receive income support.
The hampers include a selection of treats and ingredients including soups, tinned steak, salmon and veg, tea, coffee, cream, rice pudding and chocolates, as well as a personalised note from the Loxleys team, who spend their breaks putting them together.
They are then passed to Warwickshire County Council’s Adult Social Care Team who distribute them to those in need.
This is the second year running that Loxleys has put together the hampers to help people in the local area and the restaurant’s whole team gets involved in packing them up to be sent out.
Last year Age UK warned that across the country nearly a million people over the age of 65 were set to spend Christmas alone.
Jonathan Lea, General Manager at Loxleys, said: “For most of us, Christmas is full of fun, family and festive celebrations. But for some people it’s incredibly lonely.
“We started our hamper idea as a way of spreading some of the Christmas cheer we see in Loxleys throughout December with those who might otherwise miss out.
“By working with the local authority to donate the goods we’re safe in the knowledge that they are going to a good home and someone in need.
“Last year we received a lovely note from one of the recipients thanking the Loxleys team and telling us how receiving a hamper lit up their day.
“As a local independent business we always try to put a little back into the local community. It gives us great pleasure to supply our hampers with the entire Loxleys team getting involved in the packing process.”
Warwickshire County Councillor, Les Caborn, Portfolio Holder for Health and Social Care added: “This is wonderful example of true community spirit and we are pleased to be working with Loxleys to deliver the hampers to local people in need. The hampers and the kindness behind the gesture will certainly bring some much needed joy to a number of our most vulnerable Stratford residents.
“Christmas is traditionally a time for giving, for thinking of others, and reaching out, so I encourage everyone to find small ways to help others in their communities and spread some festive cheer. Together we can make a difference.”