Dumfries dad Lee Vann-Wakelin is on a new festive mission to provide underprivileged families in the town with 1,750 free meals for Christmas week.
Last year, helped by his wife, Louisa, and children – Lincoln, Jaydon, Kennedie, Miyah and Liberty – volunteers and public support, the 47-year-old learning assistant at Dumfries High School galvanised local chefs to come up with recipes for seven meals.
He then asked the public and local businesses to raise funds or donate items on a shopping list to get the ingredients for each meal. They were bagged up into hampers and distributed to 150 families nominated by local aid agencies.
Now, Lee and his family are going the extra mile. They are devoting the next few months to doing it all again – but bigger.
Lee said: “This year, the aim is to do 250 Christmas hampers, with each hamper having seven evening hot meals for families of four to six people and that includes Christmas dinner.
“It is a tall ask, but we really need the public to help by making a donation to help us buy the ingredients.
“For every £42 we raise, it will buy a whole hamper.
“Please donate any amount to: Leevann_wakelin@hotmail.com via PayPal, or bank transfer us via these details: L Vann-Wakelin 58254572 09-01-29.
“All donations will be listed online on Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/357160185914868/user/566731399.”
The theme for the meals this year is comfort food and, as well as Christmas dinner, will be: Italian tomato pasta; tandoori chicken and rice; British hot dogs, hash browns and sweetcorn; lentil vegetable soup and potato wedges; sausage casserole; chilli and cheesy nachos.
