Birmingham New Street to host Xmas Eve dinner for homeless

18th December 2018

Network Rail have teamed up with the Midland Langar Seva Society to provide a three-course dinner this Christmas Eve at Birmingham New Street for up to 200 homeless people.

Many people find themselves in a lonely and bleak position at this time of year and volunteers from Network Rail will work with the Midland Langar Seva Society to bring them some festive cheer. Tables will be set, gifts will be wrapped up and the station will host a party between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

Midland Langar Seva Society is a charity based on the Sikh principle of ‘dasvand’, which involves giving 10% of your time and earnings to help those less fortunate. They have won a Queen’s Medal and Pride of Britain award for their work and the event will provide three courses of vegetarian food, non-alcoholic drinks, and entertainment in the form of a DJ, carol singers and Christmas gifts.

Pat Power, Birmingham New Street station manager, said: “We are really looking forward to hosting this event on the station concourse this Christmas Eve. Midland Langar Seva Society do great work nearly every night of the year across the Midlands and beyond, and it’s a pleasure to be able to host this special Christmas treat for the many people they regularly help in Birmingham, by giving them a hot meal and a chance to unwind for a few hours out of the cold.”

Randhir Singh, Midland Langar Seva Society co-founder, said: “We have a Christmas party every year for our service users where we can give them a festive hot meal with a present. But this year the fact that we are being supported by Network Rail means that we can actually have the party indoors and give them the VIP service they deserve.

“Everyone will be treated to a three-course sit down meal and Santa with a present for all, a DJ and lots of volunteers from both MLSS and Network Rail to make them feel like part of a family. MLSS is very grateful to Network Rail for supporting us with this event.”

Author: Darren Porter
Image: Network Rail