THE Mayor has hosted a special reception for a Derry café owner who throws open the doors of his establishment to lonely people every Christmas.
Declan Moore of Claudes Café and his cousin Dermott O’Donnell have been hosting the event for the past thirteen years.
The aim of ‘Caring Christmas at Claudes’ is to provide a five course meal, presents and company for people who would otherwise be on their own on December 25.
Last year the Claudes team also brought Christmas meals out to people in the community.
“It has been going on quietly and under the radar for many years,” explained Mr Moore.
“It was just one of those things that started and then it was easier just to keep going.
“I suppose theory at the start was to pass the baton on, but that never really happened.
“But I have to say, the person who gets the most out of doing this absolutely, 100%, is me.”
Mr Moore and Mr O’Donnell’s children have now become involved in helping run the event which last year served 50 people in the café and 50 people in the community.
“My daughters have been doing this for so long now that they wouldn’t remember Christmas any other way,” continued Mr Moore.
“They came back in last year in buckets of tears.
“Everyone is just on a high when they come back and they have so many heart-warming stories to tell.”
“The one thing we wanted to make sure of from the start was that it didn’t feel like a hand out, but it’s the farthest thing from a hand out you can imagine.
“There is a five course dinner and proper presents- top drawer stuff.
“We have a lot of friends that donate stuff and we get donations of money too and we would use what we know to go out and get really good gifts.”
Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council Maeliosa McHugh said Mr Moore and Mr O’Donnell and their volunteers were ‘the very essence of what Christmas is about’.
“I was genuinely delighted to welcome Declan Moore and the staff of Claude’s Café to the Mayor’s Parlour this week and recognise the selfless work they do make sure local people who may be on their own have someone to celebrate Christmas with,” said Councillor McHugh.
“Although Christmas is a time for celebration for most of us, it can be a difficult and lonely period for many who are facing challenges in their life and it’s important that we look out for the vulnerable in our society at this time.
“For the volunteers at Claude’s to sacrifice their own day so that those less fortunate can enjoy theirs is the very essence of what Christmas is about and I find their generosity, where they prefer to give than to receive, thoroughly heart-warming.”
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