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szdaily -> Kaleidoscope -> 
Railway station transformed into dining hall
    2018-12-27  08:53    Shenzhen Daily

A RAILWAY station in the U.K. was transformed into a dining hall on Christmas Eve to allow 200 homeless people to have a festive dinner.

The free yuletide party was held at Birmingham New Street Station yesterday and included a three-course banquet at a round-table area set up in a busy part of the station.

Carol singers, a DJ, and Santa made an appearance at the event arranged by Sikh group the Midlands Langar Seva Society and supported by Network Rail.

The night, which also had a moving choral performance, saw the homeless people enjoy the food and come together with volunteers in a bid to fight loneliness and isolation at Christmas.

Randhir Singh, chief executive of the society, said, “Midlands Langar Seva Society are out seven nights a week, not only across Birmingham but across the U.K.

“Our main purpose is to serve humanity and serve hot meals to people less fortunate than ourselves, give out hats, clothes and warm clothing and give hope.

“Every year around about a week before Christmas we start giving out Christmas presents and cards.

“A lot of people around this time of year start missing their families, they experience depression and the suicide rate is quite high as well.

“Tonight we are putting on a three-course, sit-down Christmas meal and giving out Christmas presents, with one of the managers of Network Rail dressing as Santa.

“It’s their night and we are making it special for them.”

One of the homeless people attending the event was Louise Gall, who sat down with friends and was served food by volunteers in festive dress.

Gall, 41, said, “What they have done for us is amazing.

“I live on the streets and without this I wouldn’t have had a Christmas meal, the only way I could have had a hot meal would be by begging on the streets.

“I spent last night sleeping outside the station where the bikes are stored, it was freezing cold.

“It’s amazing what they have done for the homeless.”

The society was inspired to host the event after it noticed how many homeless people missed their families and felt isolated from society in general.

Numbers of homeless people are said to be at crisis levels by national charities and the society says it has seen this in its day-to-day work.

Round tables were decked out with donated food and soft drinks, including Christmas crackers.

Craig Stenning, deputy station manager, said, “It’s about giving back to the community.”

(SD-Agencies)

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