It was a happy Christmas for families and those in need who came together for St Catherine's community Christmas lunch this week.
The food was plentiful - thanks to the huge generosity of local business, stores, and individual donations - the newly formed St Catherine's Community choir sang to rapturous applause and even the Big Man himself turned up with presents for everyone - young and old alike.
Nine turkey crowns had been donated, hundreds of presents and gifts, and the night before Morrisons Supermarket turned up with a van load of sweets including cheeses, Christmas puddings, mince pies, chocolate, christmas cake, and buns.
There was a free raffle - with prizes including a hamper, a turkey, a teddy and a football and everyone was given a bag of fresh food to take home with them.
"I can't believe the generosity even in today's difficult times. We have been overwhelmed and humbled by it, " said Vicar, the Revd Helen Collings.
"Everyone will go home today having experienced the warm hand of friendship at this Christmas time," she said.
St Catherine's Church and Centre serves the diverse communities of Belle Vue and Agbrigg, Wakefield. It runs an emergency food bank five days a week serving the most in need and disadvantaged and it also runs healthy eating cookery classes, a drop in job club, a gardening club, and has just formed its own Community Choir which had their debut at the Community Christmas lunch. Its Friendship Cafe is open six days a week.
You can find out more about the work of St Catherines at www.stcatherines-wakefield.org.uk
All the left over gifts and goodies were taken to the CIty Of Sanctuary in Wakefield Centre to support its work with refugees and the homeless.
