For many people Christmas is a day filled with joy, family and good cheer.
But for others it is the loneliest day of the year.
“It’s a time of year that many people feel a real sense of absence and loss and despair,” Wayside Chapel chief executive Jon Owen told AAP.
But that’s something charities like his are hoping to change, pulling out all stops to show love to people who are homeless, those who are ostracised from their families, and others separated from their loved ones by domestic and international borders.
It has already been a terrible year for most people, the pastor says, so the Wayside Chapel is determined that its annual Christmas lunch in Sydney’s Potts Point won’t be cancelled for the second year running.
“It broke our hearts last year not to be able to hold one in quite the same way,” he said.
“For so many of our people we are their family, so we’re still going to have a family Christmas this year and we are going to do it with more safety precautions than just about any other.”
There'll be a Christmas service, live music and a visit from Santa to compliment the picnic lunch served between 11.30am and 2pm.
Volunteers will be fully vaccinated and decked out in PPE, and instead of chairs and tables, guests will sit on socially distanced rugs while eating their Christmas feast.
“We say to everyone, don’t be at home alone and miserable, come and be miserable with us,” Pastor Owen said.
