HOPING York Street Kitchen invited The Press to a Christmas dinner on Sunday afternoon (December 14) outside King’s Manor in Exhibition Square, where traditional hot two-course festive meals were served by volunteers from the food charity.
Chair of trustees Helen Meadows said the home-cooked Christmas dinners, prepared in volunteers’ kitchens, are an expression of “our love and friendship to all our visitors who come here”.
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The charity is on site each Sunday to serve food, give out a variety of donated household essentials, books and toiletries, as well as providing company, conversation and community for anyone.
Bishopthorpe Choir added to the Christmas spirit by performing carols while people ate.
Helen said: “The numbers in need are increasing, particularly those who are in work and struggling week in and week out.
“Some are embarrassed to ask for help, and we try as much as we can to reduce the stigma in the hope that they will seek it out in the future if they need it.”
New volunteer Rose Zeng has been helping out each Sunday for the last two months.
The 44-year-old York resident said: “I’m originally a teacher from China and I’ve shared the story of the work done here with pupils and they were really inspired by it.
Friends Katie Hemingway, 30 and Ellie Johnson, 31, have volunteered for around two years and were giving away more than 100 Christmas gift bags donated by people and businesses, including Dunelm.
Katie said: “It started for me because I love to cook for people and to offer that time and community is also really important – it’s really lovely when everyone gets a delicious hot meal too.”
Matthew, who lives in temporary accommodation in James House in James Street, said his traditional Christmas dinner was a “lifeline”.
This year’s event also offered freshly made pizza alongside the traditional menu.
Phil and Cat Gowland brought the portable Philly’s Wood Fired Pizza from Stamford Bridge, a business the couple set up following the coronavirus lockdown of 2021, and served up 64 full pizzas.
Phil said: “We want to give something back and I think it’s that time of year, and the way the world is at the moment, people need help.
“We’ve been wanting to help and I also think this sets an example for our kids, we’re trying to educate them that way.”
Helen Meadows said: “We try to celebrate important events every year.
“Whether you’re homeless, or alone, this is an emotional time.
“Each Sunday there are at least 100 people who come to eat, and we also deliver meals to houses when people in need can’t come to us.
“We serve over 300 two-course meals each week, with the food all freshly cooked in our volunteers’ kitchens.
“Many of them find after engaging in the community here that they can use their vocational and professional skills to advocate for some of the people they stop and speak to.”
HOPING York Street Kitchen serves home cooked two-course meals from a pop-up restaurant in the grounds of King’s Manor, in Exhibition Square every Sunday from 2.30pm to 4pm.
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