A GROUP of churches is planning a lunch for hundreds of homeless families facing Christmas in a bed and breakfast.
Croydon Churches Forum hopes to organise a party for 200 families currently in emergency accommodation in Gilroy Court Hotel in Thornton Heath.
Twenty volunteers have offered to prepare and serve the food during the lunch at Praise House, in London Road, this Friday (December 21).
Now the forum is in urgent need of an individual or business to lend them a marquee for the event which starts at 1pm.
Pastor Damian Luke, chairman of Croydon Churches Forum, is also calling for donations of food such as turkeys, potatoes, sprouts, mince pies and Christmas puddings.
Pastor Luke said: "It's a bit of a mad idea to try and arrange something like this in such short space of time but so far we've had a really good response.
"Our biggest problem is that we need someone with a marquee who is willing to let us use it for free.
"A company has agreed to give us heaters free-of-charge as long as we find a marquee. Any help we can get would be really appreciated."
As a result of a chronic shortage of available housing, there are currently 543 households in emergency accommodation in Croydon, of which around 230 are placed in Gilroy Court, in London Road, Thornton Heath.
Croydon Council has been criticised for leaving families in bed and breakfasts and hostels for unlawful periods of time and in cramped conditions, such as 17 people using one kitchen.
Coverage of Croydon's housing crisis in the Advertiser and nationally spurred Pastor Luke into action.
He said: "I stood outside Gilroy Court one evening and saw three children wearing school uniform. I knew they would probably share one bedroom with their parents.
"These are some of the most hard-up people in our community, many of whom have children.
"Circumstances of life have brought them to where they are - they didn't put themselves in that position.
"That's all they have got and I felt we should do something."
If you can help donate a marquee or food for the event please ring Praise House on 020 8649 5678.
Croydon Churches Forum hopes to organise a party for 200 families currently in emergency accommodation in Gilroy Court Hotel in Thornton Heath.
Twenty volunteers have offered to prepare and serve the food during the lunch at Praise House, in London Road, this Friday (December 21).
Now the forum is in urgent need of an individual or business to lend them a marquee for the event which starts at 1pm.
Pastor Damian Luke, chairman of Croydon Churches Forum, is also calling for donations of food such as turkeys, potatoes, sprouts, mince pies and Christmas puddings.
Pastor Luke said: "It's a bit of a mad idea to try and arrange something like this in such short space of time but so far we've had a really good response.
"Our biggest problem is that we need someone with a marquee who is willing to let us use it for free.
"A company has agreed to give us heaters free-of-charge as long as we find a marquee. Any help we can get would be really appreciated."
As a result of a chronic shortage of available housing, there are currently 543 households in emergency accommodation in Croydon, of which around 230 are placed in Gilroy Court, in London Road, Thornton Heath.
Croydon Council has been criticised for leaving families in bed and breakfasts and hostels for unlawful periods of time and in cramped conditions, such as 17 people using one kitchen.
Coverage of Croydon's housing crisis in the Advertiser and nationally spurred Pastor Luke into action.
He said: "I stood outside Gilroy Court one evening and saw three children wearing school uniform. I knew they would probably share one bedroom with their parents.
"These are some of the most hard-up people in our community, many of whom have children.
"Circumstances of life have brought them to where they are - they didn't put themselves in that position.
"That's all they have got and I felt we should do something."
If you can help donate a marquee or food for the event please ring Praise House on 020 8649 5678.
