Christmas Day 2021: 3,500 Christmas lunches for the homeless

by Team Bill 25 Dec 2021
Sydney’s homeless and needy will share in more than 3,500 delicious Christmas Day meals served by The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation.

The Foundation will once again host Sydney’s biggest Christmas Day lunch from their hub at Ashfield. However, to keep it COVID-safe the 2,000 needy Sydneysiders in attendance will get takeaways rather than sit-down meals. In addition, the Foundation’s fleet of food vans will deliver Christmas lunch to hundreds more needy people in 11 different locations across Sydney.

“We’re determined to give the homeless and the hungry a Christmas lunch they’ll enjoy, while keeping them as safe as we can”, said Rev. Bill Crews, CEO and founder of The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation.

Staying COVID-safe


Everyone will be kept safe thanks to a NSW Health approved COVID-safe plan. Indeed, for the second year in a row the Foundation will serve takeaway Christmas lunches, rather than sit-down meals. It’s designed to ensure the large number of needy visitors are kept socially distant and safe.

“Thanks to our vaccination program almost all our vulnerable and homeless guests are fully vaxed. That puts my mind at ease”, added Rev. Crews.

What’s on the menu?


The chefs and volunteers at The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation will serve 240 kilos of ham and turkey as well as 360 kilos of veggies. It will be accompanied by 20 litres of cranberry sauce and 2,000 fresh bread rolls. Not to mention more than 2,000 mini puddings and cheesecakes, as well as fairy floss! Of course, there will also be Christmas presents for everyone.

Rev. Crews’ 50th Christmas with the poor


This year Rev. Bill Crews celebrates his 50th Christmas Day with the poor and the homeless. It all started in Kings Cross in 1971. Rev. Crews says the decades have taught him how important it is for people to have somewhere to go on Christmas Day.

“I’ve come to understand how deep the sense of loneliness is for so many people on Christmas Day. More and more people in our society have no family, and it seems to me the emptiness grows worse every year”, said Rev. Bill Crews.

That’s why The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation’s Christmas Day lunch continues to grow, providing the Christmas cheer and family so many would otherwise miss out on.

Media invited


All media are invited to share the story of Sydney’s biggest Christmas Day lunch for the homeless and needy. Media attending The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

When and where


Date: Saturday, 25 December 2021
Time: 10:45am - 1:30pm
Venue: The Rev. Bill Crews Foundation - 180 Liverpool Road Ashfield.