HOMELESS people sleeping rough on the cold city streets are being given a festive gift after a playwright decided to spread a little Christmas joy.
This December, as we rush to buy our presents and decorate our trees, writer of hit play Calendar Girls, Tim Firth, will be putting down his pen and turning his talents to creating a packed musical feast filled with the spirit of Christmas in his home village of Alvanley.
But instead of buying tickets or donating money towards the festive concert, filled with music and dancing, families are being asked to dig into their cupboards for tins of beans and packets of pasta to keep the homeless alive over the festive period.
For the third year running the concert, Food for Thought, will see hundreds of residents pack into the village hall to listen to talented local musicians while donating parcels of food to be handed-out to homeless people in Chester.
On Wednesday, December 19, the acclaimed playwright and his friends and family are asking children, parents and grandparents to raid their cupboards and dig out tins of spaghetti, beans, fruit and vegetables to help keep homeless people sleeping rough in our city centre alive this Christmas.
Last year’s concert was a raging success with hundreds of residents enjoying carols and donating mountains of food to CATH, which provides help and support for people sleeping rough in the city centre.
And this year Mike Metcalf, who runs the concert with Tim, hopes that the concert will collect even more food, which will be donated to the incoming company Foundation Enterprises NW, to be distributed to homeless people across the city.
“It really is a special night. No money is collected or changes hand and only food is offered as an entry fee to the concert.
“The food goes directly the following morning to families in a homeless situation and we ask the kids involved to take it along. It really is a ‘Food for Thought’ concert and so successful last year we needed four large vehicles to take along the food to Chester.
“It really is a great night and please do come along and enjoy the evening.”
Food for Thought will be held on Wednesday, December 19 at 6.30pm in Alvanley Village Hall, Alvanley, Frodsham. If you wish to support the concert in any way contact Mike Metcalf on 07771 834650 or email mike@swirefordroad.fsnet.co.uk.
