Shelters provide festive meal for the homeless

THE shelters for the homeless have all organised special meals for today.
Jaume Santandreu, the priest who runs the shelter known as Can Gaza, said that Christmas Eve is a particularly bad time, as people remember their families and the life they used to have. He explained that they tried to find a remedy for the sadness at Can Gaza, and do so by spending an evening at Cas Compte in Santa Margalida, where the owner provides a meal. Last year, there were 300 people who, after dinner, went to mass and heard the singing of the Sibil.la, the prophecies of the end of the world and Judgement Day. Can Gaza is in Calle Vicari, Secar de la Real.
Santandreu also said that Can Gaza had donated a suckling pig to the shelter Ca l'Ardiaca, which is next to the cemetery, as a sign of solidarity.
The centres run by the Majorcan Institute of Social Welfare do not usually provide food, but will lay on a Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve dinner.
The menu for tonight is cream of chestnut soup, tropical sole, pears Belle Helene, turron (honey and almond nougat) and moscatel.
On New Year's Eve, they will serve fish soup, turkey, the 12 grapes of luck, turron and a glass of cava.
The Zaqueo centre in Plaza Mercadal, said that they will provide a meal (hors d'oeuvres and roast chicken) to all those who request it and will also offer a place to sleep. Normally about 100 people a day use its facilities.
Many churches will also be operating soup kitchens.