Caritas Malta will be providing Christmas day lunch for individuals who do not have anyone to spend the holiday with, thereby creating a family atmosphere and a chance to make new friends and meet new people.

Loneliness is perhaps most often overlooked, and affects people from all walks of life. This will be the second year Caritas will host such an event. Caritas Director Leonid McKay explained that “the idea last year was to host a Christmas Day lunch for the homeless, and those with drug problems who end up on the street. We expected around 30-40 people, however once we launched the hotline, we realised that the majority of those calling were persons who have nobody to share Christmas with, and who cannot spend yet another Christmas day on their own. Thus we shifted the event from just being for homeless persons, to those suffering with loneliness”.

The number of persons attending rose to nearly 200, he said, resulting in Caritas having to change venue from one of their homes to their main head office in Floriana. “This year, we have already well passed the 200 mark”.

“Like last year, we will offer a simple and special meal. Simple as it won’t be a five course meal. The menu will be offered through Dar Papa Frangisku, supported by the Gululu restaurant and Vecchia Napoli chefs.  Dar Papa Frangisku’s board includes government, the Church and the Alfred Mizzi Foundation. The Alfred Mizzi Foundation donated all the food for this year’s event”.

Volunteers will accompany those attending the meal, and the scope, he said, is to create a family-like atmosphere.

The number of volunteers has also almost doubled, he said, from 40 last year to nearly 80 this year. “These volunteers supported us in the weeks preceding the event”. He also said that while never asking for donations, people call up asking to help.

“The President, for the second year in a row, will support the event. Last year, the President’s office provided the desserts and she also made an unexpected visit. This year, the President will provide the sweets and is also helping out financially”.

Since more people will attend this year’s lunch, the venue will move from the Caritas Head office, to the Curia courtyard, under a massive tent made possible thanks to donations by the President’s office and the Parliamentary Secretariat for local government, on behalf of government, Mr McKay explained.

This year, entertainment will be provided by Extend. “Last year we didn’t have entertainment and it was all very spontaneous, this year it’s more organised, but regardless we want to keep-it simple, to focus on having a family-like atmosphere”.

There will also be social workers here on the day, and follow-ups will be made by those who ask for help.

When the Archbishop visited last year, Mr McKay remembers him saying that he wanted Caritas to host this year’s event at the centre of the Curia, saying that “these are noble people who he wants to open the Church up to”.

Mr McKay said that loneliness is not just a problem faced by elderly people, but also by those of younger generations.

Those attending will be welcomed with hot chocolate. The first plate will be soup followed by lasagne as the main course. “Naturally there will be a no alcohol policy”. The desert will then be offered by the President’s kitchen. People attending will also receive a small hamper.

Mr McKay said that the Caritas Youths Coordinator is taking calls from those interested in attending this year’s lunch and he is asking a number of questions, such as why they are not spending time with their families. He found that a number of callers have a family, yet due to diverse reasons they cannot spend Christmas with them. This is a reality, and the family in Maltese society today is going through a transformation.  The people here on Christmas Day would not necessarily be here because they don’t have anyone, but also because they can’t be with their families due to, for example, family in-fighting etc”.

“Last year, no one attended for the free food, and those who came here were those who were truly suffering from loneliness”. He explained that those wanting to talk about their problems, would be able to leave their details with volunteers, and Caritas will call them at a later date to make appointments.

Doors at the Curia, where Christmas Day lunch will be held, open tomorrow at 11 am and those wanting to attend can call 99122515.