homeless

Manchester restaurant to offer free buffet for the homeless this Christmas

  • Restuarant to feed the homeless this christmas
  • Also aims to provide them with free haircuts 

A restaurant in Manchester is offering homeless people in the city a free Christmas buffet.

Jasmine Grill, located on Richmond street in Manchester’s gay village, intends to feed those who would normally spend their Christmas on the street, while also offering them free taxi pick ups to get them to and from the restaurant.

They are also giving the homeless gifts, hoping that they can provide them with much-needed essentials this winter with things such as thermals, coats and gloves.

The restaurant is under the same ownership as streetcars Manchester, a local taxi service known for its generous attitude towards the community, with them offering free pick ups for those involved in the Manchester Arena attack in 2017.

Account manager Mohammed Al Hassain said: “Once a year Christmas happens, everyone should be able to enjoy it. It’s not fair if we’re enjoying ourselves and the people on the streets are not.

“So, on Christmas day, we’re planning an event where we could do a buffet service for the homeless people, it’ll be from lunch onwards.

“We’re also speaking to volunteers at the moment where we could hopefully give them free haircuts, give them a laundry service where they can wash their clothes.

“Manchester is a diverse place, so we need to make sure people are not left out, and make sure their bellies are full, at least!”

Speaking on the growing issue of homelessness in the city, he added: “We feel as if the homeless of this city aren’t taken notice of, they’re just living day to day on the streets.

“Manchester is a diverse place, so we need to make sure people are not left out, and make sure their bellies are full, at least.

“It’s as if there is an increase every year, every year we see more and more.

“The main thing with what we’re doing is to just put a smile on their faces, when you treat people nicely, anything can happen!”.

The event is planned to take place from lunchtime onwards and is open to all who would normally go hungry on Christmas.

Homelessness in the city of Manchester is a growing problem, with there being an estimated 268 rough sleepers within Greater Manchester, with over 5,000 people without proper accommodation.