FOR the third year running Waitrose Okehampton will help to support elderly, homeless and vulnerable people in the community this Christmas.

With more than three quarters of a million Brits over 65 saying they always or often feel lonely according to a TNS Agenda for Later Life survey, the support is aimed at cutting these numbers at what is the most sociable time of the year for many others.

The retailer will help support local Christmas lunch events for people who might otherwise be on their own on Christmas day.

Waitrose Okehampton is asking organisers of Christmas dinner events in the area to get in touch, where they can apply for support from the retailer. The deadline for requests is September 30.

The support will see every Waitrose shop helping community Christmas lunch events offering food, money and other resources including hundreds of Waitrose volunteering hours being offered for Waitrose partners to help plan events, Waitrose asking its customers to think of people in their community who might be lonely this Christmas and make small actions that might make a big difference.

Each of the retailer’s 338 shops will be supporting by volunteering their time, and donating money or produce to put towards community Christmas dinner events.

Waitrose is asking groups to apply for this support from their local branch if they are already organising – or thinking of organising — such a lunch.

Laura Grant, branch manager at Waitrose Okehampton, said: ‘We are pleased to be able to offer our support to a Christmas lunch in Okehampton and the surrounding community and we would encourage organisers to contact us with their plans.’

Waitrose community manager Tina Varns said: ‘Our branches are at the centre of the communities they serve. We know how important this time of year is to so many people and it is important everyone has the opportunity to enjoy that. We want to play our part in helping more people have a Merry Christmas this year.’

Call into Waitrose’s customer service desk for more information.