Three Boston community groups supporting others over Christmas boosted by Asda donations

Homeless charity Centrepoint Outreach and Boston’s Restore Church both received £600 each, while Centenary Methodist Church was given £400.

The funding for Centenary Methodist Church will be used for the cost of a free Christmas Day cooked meal for anyone in the community, in a sociable, cheerful and supportive environment for people who would otherwise spend the day alone.

Centrepoint Outreach will use the money to provide a free drop-in traditional Christmas meal.

Colleagues from Boston’s Asda supermarket will also volunteer to help serve the hot cooked meal.

Warm clothing and toiletries will also be provided.

The money awarded to Restore Church will go towards craft materials and refreshments for a free Christmas wreath-making workshop.

This event will be open to all and aims to reduce loneliness and isolation. Some of the money will also be used to provide bedding and sleeping bags for the homeless through the winter and food supplies for the Restore Pantry.

Stephen Bromby, community champion at Asda Boston, said: “We’re delighted to be able to provide grant funding to these hard-working local groups, enabling people to come together this winter in a warm space and support them with activities or through the provision of a hot meal.”

Asda Foundation grants are open to groups helping communities to address the rising costs of living. Applications are also encouraged from groups working to improve the lives of children and young people, as demonstrated by the Lister Way supermarket’s recent purchase of a full kit and new equipment for Wyberton Under 9s Football Club with a grant of £580.

The independent charity also has a broader grant scheme to support over 18s to provide essentials, improve a space or bring people together, such as these festive celebrations which bring people together who otherwise may not be able to celebrate.

Mr Bromby added: “Each Asda store has a community champion, and their role is to support groups and projects within the local community through donations of time, goods or space, as well as managing Asda Foundation grant applications. The next round of our Grassroots Grant applications will return in early 2024.”