Local MP Caroline Dinenage is backing an initiative to help support elderly, homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas.
According to a survey commissioned by Age UK, more than three quarters of a million British people over the age of 65 often feel lonely. This Christmas, Waitrose Gosport is offering financial support and manpower to back-up the efforts of local groups organising Christmas lunches in the Gosport area.
Caroline said:
"I am delighted to hear that our local branch of Waitrose will be helping to tackle loneliness this Christmas. At the most sociable time of the year, it is saddening to think of people who are not surrounded by their family and friends.
The Christmas lunch initiative is an excellent way to address this problem and I hope that local organisations will take Waitrose up on their kind offer of support."
Over the past five years, Waitrose Gosport has donated £152,000 to 180 local causes through its Community Matters scheme. The branch also provides its employees with 250 paid hours per year to volunteer in the community.
The deadline for requests for the Christmas Lunch initiative is 15th November.