Hearts and Hibs stars dish up meal for homeless

HEARTS and Hibs players joined forces to feed some of Edinburgh’s most vulnerable people at a homelessness charity’s Christmas lunch.
Hearts players Jamie Walker, right, and Soufian el Hassnaoui serve lunch to 
Hibs supporter Kevin McKenzie. Picture: Julie BullHearts players Jamie Walker, right, and Soufian el Hassnaoui serve lunch to 
Hibs supporter Kevin McKenzie. Picture: Julie Bull
Hearts players Jamie Walker, right, and Soufian el Hassnaoui serve lunch to Hibs supporter Kevin McKenzie. Picture: Julie Bull

They dished up a three-course meal with all the trimmings to 60 guests at Streetwork’s annual festive get-together.

The lunch also kicked off the second half of Streetwork’s 2015 Winter Crisis Appeal, which aims to raise £10,000 to provide practical help for those who find themselves homeless this winter. Food was provided by the Sheraton Grand Hotel, which is now in its eighth year of supporting the Streetwork Christmas lunch.

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Streetwork staff also helped, with finance manager and Jambo Gordon Watson and Hibby Jan Williamson doing their bit alongside their favourites from Tynecastle and Easter Road.

“We are really grateful to the clubs and players for giving their time so generously,” said Gordon. “There is a lot of footie banter in the office so we reckoned we could channel that into a bit of fun to raise cash for the Winter Appeal.

“We’re calling on all Jambos and Hibbies out there to support us by helping to raise money for a great cause.”

Both clubs urged their fans to back the Winter Appeal.

A Hearts spokesman said: “Heart of Midlothian Football Club is delighted to continue to back the fantastic efforts of Streetwork by attending their annual Christmas lunch.

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“Christmas is a time for giving and our players are only too happy to give up their time to come along and serve Christmas dinners to those less fortunate. We wish Streetwork every success with their Winter Appeal and would urge our supporters to see how they can make a difference in someone’s life this Christmas.”

A spokesman for Hibs, who also donated match tickets for guests, said: “It is a privilege to support the Streetwork Winter Appeal again this year.

“The charity does a fantastic amount of work and we are happy to help where we can.

“Our supporters have shown their kind and generous nature on a number of occasions and I’m sure they will get behind the Winter Appeal this year.”

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Funds raised through the Winter Appeal will provide essential support to people who are on the streets.

Streetwork chief executive Kenny Forsyth said: “Our staff are on the streets of Edinburgh 365 days a year, reaching out to people living in the most desperate situations. Demands on services are particularly high at this time of year.

“So we’re delighted to have such generous support from Hearts, Hibs and the Sheraton. Christmas is a time for families but for many people, the complex problems which lead to them becoming homeless stretch back to their childhood.”

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