Skinner Street United Reformed Church in Poole, Dorset offers food, shelter and company to homeless people at Christmas, through a scheme coordinated by Christian charity Routes to Roots. Drawing on her recent experiences of the event, Lynn Foster presents a Christmas Day diary

9.00 am:

Several volunteers arrive to open up the hall and start preparing vegetables and laying out tables. Christmas decorations are being strung around the hall and Christmassy music is playing – we are all excited and a good atmosphere is starting to build.

11.00 am:

Several homeless men and women start to arrive – eager to get a cup of tea and a sandwich to keep them going until Christmas lunch. They are happy to sit and chat with the volunteers. Church members have supplied Christmas “goody bags” which are placed under a Christmas tree in the corner. Each bag has a new hat, gloves, socks and chocolate and will be handed to the guys and girls after the lunch.

A Polish man, who has only recently been found after a period of drinking, arrives and is eager to help set up the video and TV in the parlour. A young couple turn up and also begin to assist but shortly after arriving, the young girl is in tears as she misses her mum and younger brother, who, because of family difficulties, she is not allowed to speak to. The outreach worker, who is staying for part of the day, comforts her and encourages her back into the hall.

The music and refreshments are working their magic and people are starting to relax.

This is an extract from the December 2009 issue of Reform.

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Related articles:

1. Alison Micklem – Community-minded: Homeless shelter project
2. Comfort and Joy?: John Simpson reports on how friends and colleagues will be celebrating Christmas in Zimbabwe
3. The real cast of Christmas: John Campbell on the blurring gospel accounts of Matthew and Luke
4. Editorial – Kay Parris: Christmas: an opportunity for radical welcome
5. Sonia Christie – Eco-Mum: Christmas dinner

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