ABOUT 100 people enjoyed a free festive feast thanks to a kind-hearted caterer and a team of volunteers.
Residents aged 60 and over from Evenwood and Ramshaw filled the Workingmen’s Club for a free Christmas lunch and social afternoon organised by kind-hearted Kimberley Clark.
Ms Clark, who runs her own business, Kim’s Kitchen, said she was up at 3am getting food prepared. She added: “Admittedly I did wonder whether it was worth putting my pyjamas on at all as I only got to bed at 1am, but it’s all worth it when we you see everyone’s faces.
“Initially I started this as there was nothing going on in the community for the elderly and I thought it would nice to give them a social event and I would like to think in 20 or 30 years’ time someone would do it for me.”
Ms Clark ran a similar event for new year in January but has been amazed at the support from businesses and residents for the latest lunch
She said: “I was a bit disappointed with the numbers who came earlier in the year so I have been out knocking on doors asking if people are coming.
“The support we’ve had from local businesses has been amazing – everyone has been so generous.”
Specially made chair decorations had been donated for the event by Emma Westwood-Fulcher, who grew up in Evenwood and recently started her own business called From Seats to Treats in Bishop Auckland.
Pupils and children from nurseries also played their part in the preparations, making Christmas cards, which were handed out at the start of the lunch.
Guests also got to enjoy seasonal music courtesy of Richard Ellis-Hawley, organist at St Paul’s Church. And after few rounds of bingo guests relaxed with a bit of dancing.
Volunteers from the Angel Trust, a charity launched by TV presenter Scarlett Moffatt, helped bring in a whole host of donations for the raffle with most of the major supermarkets and businesses providing donations to make up more than 50 prize food hampers.
Alison Stoker, who runs the workingmen’s club, said the money raised from the bingo and raffle would be split between the Angel Charity and an annual Christmas party she organises for the village children at the club.
