Christmas lunch set to attract big crowd on the Gold Coast

More than 700 Gold Coasters are expected to spend Christmas together as local volunteers join together to host the city’s biggest free Christmas lunch.

IMAGINE having 700 people turn up at your place for Christmas lunch.

It is the reality every year for Gold Coast woman Susie Longman, who founded the Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch for the city’s battlers.

Now in its 11th year, the event has become the city’s biggest free open invitation lunch of its kind.

Susie Longman and Cam Christie volunteer from the Labrador free Christmas lunch. Picture, John Gass

More than 700 Gold Coasters from all walks of life are expected to crowd into the Labrador State School Community Hall on Christmas Day, with more than 70 roast chickens, 200kg of vegetables and countless litres of custard being used to feed the masses — and it’s all thanks to donations from the public.

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Ms Longman said the day would benefit both the guests, many of whom are down on their luck, as well as the 120 volunteers who donate their time.

“Christmas is that time of the year when disconnection is magnified and a lot of people feel very lonely, so I think a lot of our volunteers are experiencing that as well,” she said.

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“We are never short of volunteers. We are inundated every year with people wanting to help.”

As well as cooking the food, the dedicated volunteers also help to transport people, provide kids’ activities and put on live entertainment on the day.

The Gold Coast Community Christmas Lunch runs from 11am-2pm on December 25.