For the second year running, the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) supported Care Leavers attending Christmas day lunches, by giving out 3,510 food parcels. The lunches were run by selfless community volunteers across the country for Care Leavers who would have otherwise been alone at Christmas, and were coordinated by Lemn Sissay’s Foundation, The Gold From The Stone.
Sarah Dayananda, sustainability & ethics manager, social impact, said: “We’re delighted to be working again with The Gold From The Stone Foundation, and the wonderful volunteers who organise Christmas lunches for Care Leavers. Support is needed beyond the ‘big day’, so we hope that the Care Leavers feel appreciated and considered in a time of isolation for many.”
This year, JLP donated three bespoke food parcels each to 1,170 people, so that they had some necessary shopping to last them past Christmas and into the New Year (as well as some treats). They contained items such as tea and coffee, soup, sweet and savoury biscuits, mince pies, pasta and pasta sauce, chocolate and crisps.
The Foundation, founded by author, poet and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE, believes that no Care Leaver should feel alone on Christmas day. They help to coordinate communities across the nation making Christmas day special for people who would otherwise be alone.
Lemn Sissay, OBE and founder of The Gold From The Stone Foundation, added: “The Christmas Dinners are for young adults who have been in care who feel alone on Christmas Day. I am over the moon that Waitrose and John Lewis Partners are supporting The Christmas Dinners throughout the country. Waitrose are providing incredible Christmas Hampers filled with goodies for the young care leavers to take home after the Christmas Dinner. This support is crucial in winter time. It means the care goes beyond the dinner into the homes of vulnerable young people. It is the tenth year of The Christmas Dinners and your support is a Christmas present in itself. I feel emotional. The Christmas Hampers from Waitrose and John Lewis are immensely important to everyone involved and brings added magic to the day. I know the hampers are not for me but as the person who started this enterprise this feels like my first Christmas present.”
