News  |  Posted 27 December 2023

Festival of Kindness hits one million milestone

Year-round support from Social Bite often starts with a meal at Christmas time. Through our housing and employment programmes, people go on to build their confidence, learn new skills and break the cycle of homelessness. That’s why Festival of Kindness means a lot to us at Social Bite, and a lot to the people we support.

Two men in Santa hats sitting at a table with a red tablecloth receive a plate of Christmas dinner from a woman in a green apron.

We were thrilled that thanks to your help, this year’s Festival of Kindness received 214,518 Christmas dinners, gifts and essential items, including almost 12,200 presents which were physically dropped off at the Trees of Kindness. But 2023’s incredible total also means that since Christmas 2020, Festival of Kindness has provided an astonishing 1.1 million meals, gifts, and essentials to people who need them most.

Many of the meals and gift items were delivered in time for Christmas by Social Bite and our brilliant charity partners, as we made sure that your kindness reached thousands of homeless individuals, families and children across Scotland and the UK.

“I wanted to say a massive thank you as we’ve had a bumper load of gifts from Social Bite! We came back with absolutely loads of coats, slippers, chocolates and other gifts. And then 150 Christmas dinners had also arrived! Thank you so much for all your support, you’ve made everyone feel very Christmassy here in the Centre.”
Charity partner
 

FMan in a Santa hat holding a pink takeaway coffee cupestival of Kindness means we’re able to provide meals and loving company to people throughout the winter. And this year donations also funded emergency hotel beds and sheltered accommodation for people in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London not just over Christmas but right up until March 2024.

Contributions towards the ‘Gift of Home’ have brought us one step closer to building two new Social Bite Villages, too. These communities of 15 beautiful, prefabricated homes will surround a vibrant communal hub, creating a sanctuary for individuals to rebuild their lives in a supportive environment. We hope to start construction in Dundee and South Lanarkshire later this year. Watch this space!

To all our supporters, a heartfelt thank you from everyone at Social Bite for making the festive season and winter months that bit brighter for those who really needed it.

“What a fantastic day at Social Bite yesterday, the whole atmosphere was so festive and welcoming – I really didn’t want to leave!”
Social Bite guest on Christmas Day

 

If you want to support Social Bite and help us to provide homes, jobs and food all year round

Donate Here