320 turn up for Caritas Christmas lunch for the lonely

'The warm, family atmosphere was beautiful. Nobody complained about the menu, but rather socialized with each other' - Caritas director

Some 80 volunteers turned up at Caritas' Christmas meal
Some 80 volunteers turned up at Caritas' Christmas meal
Food was provided by Vecchia Napoli and Gululu
Food was provided by Vecchia Napoli and Gululu
Entertainment was provided by the band X-tend
Entertainment was provided by the band X-tend

As families and friends around Malta gathered to spend Christmas Day together, Caritas was busy organising a Christmas lunch for those who would otherwise have spent ‘the most wonderful day of the year’ by themselves.

The meal, held at the Curia’s courtyard in Floriana, turned out to be a success – attracting some 320 people and 80 volunteers.

“Unfortunately, the number of people at the meal increased from last year, when some 200 attended,” Caritas director Leonid McKay told MaltaToday. “However, on a positive note the number of volunteers also increased and the warm, family atmosphere around the table was beautiful. Nobody spoke or complained about the menu itself, but rather socialized with each other.”

Most of the people who attended the meal were elderly, but McKay said that there were also younger people with financial or family problems, homeless people, people with mental health problems, and others who were simply suffering from loneliness. The majority of attendees were Maltese and there was more or less of a gender balance. Food was provided by the restaurants Vecchia Napoli and Gululu. 

McKay hailed the 80 or so volunteers at the event, some of who turned up at the Curia to help with the preparations from as early as 4:30am. Volunteers included President Emeritus George Abela and recovering drug addicts from Caritas’ female rehabilitation programme. 

Entertainment was provided by the band X-tend, while renowned tenor Joseph Calleja also turned up at one point to provide a short impromptu performance.

President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, and Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona were all present.