The Salvation Army is making sure older and more vulnerable people in Newham can enjoy hearty meals and good company by hosting friendly lunches each week.
Majors Tony and Jean Button have been running the East Ham Salvation Army on Wakefield Street for nearly 20 years and enjoy providing friendship and support for those who need it in the community.
They offer a lunch from 12.15pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays, which usually consists of a roast,a sweet and unlimited soft drinks for £2.50.
The lunches are mainly attended by pensioners and have proved incredibly popular with over 60 people turning up each week.
The Thursday lunches are usually the busiest as a minibus is available to collect the less mobile from their houses.
Tony Button, 63, explained that the Salvation Army’s focus is to provide a service for people that live alone or don’t have much family. He said: “It’s more about getting people out of the house and letting them spend time together. They can come anytime after 9am on lunch days so that they can be warm, save money on their electricity bills and enjoy each others company.
“As we see people twice a week it’s a good way of making sure they are ok. If they don’t turn up one week then we will go round and check on them. We treat each member like family.”
The East Ham group also held a Christmas day meal, where pensioners came and enjoyed dinner, games, crackers and presents.
For more information about the Salvation Army lunches contact easthamsa@tiscali.co.uk or call Tony and Jean on 02084721488 or 02085524575.
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