Young Mum Invites 60 Strangers To Christmas Dinner To Combat Loneliness

A woman organised Christmas dinner for 60 strangers, because she was worried about feeling lonely.

Twenty-year-old Taylor Barnes, who has a one-year old daughter, was brought up in care and doesn't have a big support network, so when she overheard another woman saying that she hates this time of year because she feels lonely, she decided to do something about it.

Taylor, from Greenock, Scotland, invited pensioners, homeless people, refugees and other single parents with their little ones to the meal. She even managed to raise £600 to buy them all presents. How amazing is that? What a LAD.

The 60 diners enjoyed a three course meal. Credit: Taylor Barnes

She told the Daily Record: "I had been thinking about Christmas Day, because me and my wee girl were going to be lonely this year as I don't really have support.

"Then I heard this woman saying that she hates this time of year because she remembers how lonely she is.

"I was quite upset. I couldn't sleep that night. I went online looking for ideas of what I could do.

"Then the idea for the Christmas dinner just popped into my head.

"I thought it would be great to have a community event to bring other people who will be on their own together."

So, she launched an appeal online and was soon inundated with responses. Thomas Compston and Laura Essler, who own 134 Cathcart Steak House, spotted Taylor's post and offered to open on Christmas Day to cook for the party.

He told the paper: "When I saw Taylor's post, I thought it was a great idea to do something for the community. We supplied the premises and I and Laura cooked for them."

As well as the three-course meal and cash for presents, Taylor also arranged for free transport while diners were treated to a performance from a singer.

She said: "It's amazing how supportive the local community have been. I've been brassnecking it by looking for donations and everyone has been so helpful.

"There's a lot of really good people out there. I know there's a lot of people in the area who spend Christmas alone or feel isolated so I thought, 'Why should we all spend Christmas alone?'.

"It's given me the drive to go out there and do something."

Source: Daily Record

Featured Image Credit: Greenock Telegraph

Topics: Christmas, UK News, Scotland, Homelessness

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19