A special Christmas Day meal for the lonely or homeless has become a warm-hearted community effort.
The John Smith’s Stadium is to stage the event from noon to 4pm on Christmas Day.
And businesses have now rallied round to make it a day to remember ““ but more help is needed.
The meal has traditionally been hosted at Huddersfield’s Methodist Mission but they have only been able to cater for just over 30. The stadium will be able to provide meals for more than 100.
Anthony Hegney, general manager for caterers The Lindley Group at the stadium, said: “The response has been magnificent so far and the offers just keep on coming in but we want anyone with a kind-hearted spirit to help make this a very special day for people who would otherwise be possibly facing a miserable time at Christmas.
“We now have food to feed 120 guests and so far I have had the Greedy Little Pig donate enough pulled pork to feed 100, Christmas puddings have been donated, bread has been donated, Wilsons from the wholesale market have donated the fruit veg and salad.
“But we also need more turkeys and could do with someone to sponsor the turkeys.
“We are also looking for a sponsor for T-Shirts for the volunteers to wear on the day to identify them. These could be branded if it’s a company with the other sponsors’ logos on.”
Brighouse-based young entrepreneur Jacob Hill ““ who runs The Lazy Camper selling camping kits in a bag to festival-goers ““ is donating sleeping bags and outdoor wear.
The organisers also want to help the homeless by providing them with good clean waterproof coats which can be dropped off at the stadium, Flowers By Glen at Rockwood Garden Centre at Grange Moor, Huddersfield police station and Huddersfield Methodist Mission.
Anthony added: “It would be great if people could buy a child’s toy to the value of £5, wrap it and drop it off at the same locations marked boy or girl. We also need nice gifts for the elderly to take away on the day, marked ladies or gents.”
Anyone who can help should contact Anthony on 07798 637010 or email at
ahegney@thelindleygroup.com