VOLUNTEERS that are unable to host a traditional roast dinner on Christmas day will instead be offering home deliveries.

Organisers of the Gillingham Community Christmas Meal, Fran Hill and Lynn Broom, decided to keep the initiative going this year, despite the Covid-19 pandemic halting the usual proceedings.

As a result volunteers from across the town have rallied together over the last month, and roast dinners “with all the trimmings” are getting delivered next Friday to families and residents who are in need of a festive hot meal.

Lynn said the scheme usually feeds between 50 and 70 people at Gillingham Methodist Church, and this year volunteers were needed to prepare and deliver goods.

She described the community support as “incredible and generous”, adding: “We decided to continue this as we do it every year. It’s for everyone who needs a meal over Christmas, it’s just giving them something to smile about.”

Residents have also been donating gifts to the project, which will be delivered to families and individuals alongside the roast dinner, cakes, biscuits and more.

For more information visit the Gillingham Community Christmas Meal page on Facebook.

  • THE one-week countdown to Christmas begins tomorrow night with a special virtual carol service.

With its annual carolling event falling victim to the Covid-19 pandemic, the team behind Music at Gillingham Methodist Church (GMC) is recreating the festivities online, so residents can enjoy a range of music and prayer from the comfort of their own homes.

It will take the usual format with a mixture of carols, lessons and prayers, along with some music from church members and guest performers.

At the end of the service there will be a Christmas greetings section, with contributions from many previous Music at GMC performers.

This includes more than a dozen contributions from international musicians, including David Briggs from New York City, Martin Setchell from New Zealand and Hans Hielscher from Germany.

The Christmas greetings will later be posted online as a separate video, for those not wishing to watch the carol part of the service. The virtual experience will go live on YouTube and Facebook at 7pm.

For a preview of tomorrow night’s event visit youtu.be/ztgLf6pFaEs