Community Christmas for 400
422. Natalie Lek
A student from Blackley who created a community christmas dinner initiative in Manchester that this year will bring over 400 meals to vulnerable people on Christmas Day.
The Community Christmas Dinner, run by Natalie, 36, a law student and mother of five, is a social action project which provides hot Christmas dinners to the elderly and vulnerable living in Manchester and the surrounding areas. Her initiative began in 2013, when Natalie offered to make a Christmas Dinner for anyone who would otherwise not be able to have one. After posting on social media and gaining the support of local media, she was delighted to discover over 70 people expressing interest in receiving a dinner.
This year Natalie is set to cook 400 free Christmas meals and deliver them to vulnerable people across Greater Manchester. She will be preparing and cooking the traditional turkey Christmas dinners from her kitchen in Blackley, with the meals then delivered with the help of volunteers.
Natalie’s motivation to start the initiative began in 2013, when she found she would be alone on Christmas day and decided to cook for others. Her aim is to ensure anyone who is not able to afford or make a big Christmas dinner receives to help make their Christmas special.
Prime Minister David Cameron said:
“Natalie’s Community Christmas Dinner is a wonderful initiative to help others at Christmas time. Thanks to her selflessness, over 400 elderly or vulnerable people will receive a home-cooked dinner and some company on Christmas Day. I am delighted to recognise Natalie’s kindness with the UK’s 422nd Point of Light.”