30,000 meals donated to help homeless people this Christmas

Big-hearted Scots have donated more than 30,000 hot Christmas dinners for homeless people in just a few days after itison's annual fundraiser for Social Bite kicked off last week.

Article Source: itison
Last Updated: 14 December 2023 11:42

Now itison CEO Oli Norman and Social Bite founder Josh Littlejohn are urging people to ditch traditional stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts and choose to gift a homeless person a hot meal this Christmas instead.

Since the fundraising campaign first launched in 2014, itison has raised over £3m to support Social Bite and donated over 700,000 meals – the money raised each year has helped ensure that Social Bite hasn’t had to turn away a single homeless or vulnerable person.

As the cost of living crisis continues to bite, the support is more vital than ever with funds raised going to ensure that Social Bite can continue to provide free meals for those who need it, not just on Christmas Day, but the entire year-round

This year on itison.com, people can:

• Donate £5 to buy a homeless person Christmas dinner
• Donate £5 to buy a gift for a child who may not have a gift otherwise
• Donate £5 to help build the new Social Bite Villages in Glasgow & Dundee

Speaking on the campaign, Oli said: “The temperatures are already hitting freezing and there are thousands of people sleeping rough on our streets. Over 30,000 meals have already been donated which is phenomenal in such a short space of time.

“Every year we spend so much money on stocking fillers and Secret Santa gifts – this year we’re urging people to do something amazing to help people who are homeless instead.

“This is the absolute hardest and loneliest time of the year for so many people – and your donation can make a massive impact.”

Josh Littlejohn added: “Our annual itison fundraiser is the absolute lifeblood of Social Bite and allows us to provide food for people who need it, not just on Christmas Day – but the entire year-round.

“Without this campaign – Social Bite wouldn’t exist in the form that it does and we cannot thank you enough for all your support. We’re urging people to please keep donating and keep sharing with friends to ensure we can continue supporting homeless and vulnerable people who need us.

“We’ve heard so many wonderful stories of people swapping Christmas Cards and Secret Santa gifts for donations instead – and are encouraging as many people as we can to get behind the campaign by doing this too.”

Donations can be made on www.itison.com

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