Hackney cafe offering free Christmas lunch

Haberdashery Cafe seeks dontations for Christmas lunch for elderly.

A cafe in Stoke Newington will be dishing up free Christmas lunches to elderly residents who would otherwise spend the day alone in effort to tackle loneliness.

Co-owner of The Haberdashery, Massimo Bergamin, who is organising the lunch says the idea was inspired by an elderly customer who told him he would be spending the day alone.

He said: “We never seem to think of the real meaning of Christmas, to think about other people, we just seem to forget it.

“We have completely lost that thing of helping each other - it’s very commercial.”

Guests at the lunch can expect a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings as well as games and other entertainment.

And Massimo is calling on Hackney residents to donate everything needed from the turkey and vegetables to secret Santa Gifts.

But he added that donation of money will also be much appreciated because it can be used where needed.

He said: “The biggest expense for us is taxis which are very expensive on Christmas Day.”

Any monies not used for the lunch will be donated to local charities who work with the elderly.

To donate, volunteer or enquire about a place at the lunch visit The Haberdashery on their Facebook page or email: info@the-haberdashery.com