Two “pot luck” lunches will be held next week to bring the Deeside community together during the festive period and create new friendships.
The community lunches will take place on Saturday, December 28 from 1pm to 3.30pm at Crathie Kirk Hall and at the Aboyne-Dinnet Church Hall.
The initiative, which first took place last year, is being organised in part by Aboyne, Upper Deeside and Donside councillor Geva Blackett.
She said: “It’s to bring people together from what are really quite wide communities.
“The Aboyne one covers Lumphanan, Tarland, Logie Coldstone, Finzean, Ballogie and everywhere in between.
“And the Crathie event encompasses Braemar, Crathie and Ballater, which are really quite spread out communities, so these lunches are a way of bringing the community together on a day that isn’t quite Christmas, and isn’t quite New Year, but stuck somewhere between the two.
“Balmoral and Invercauld are giving us venison to make some venison chilli, and Tesco give us their leftover vegetables and fruit, so we’ll have a vegetarian stew on offer as well – in addition to sticky toffee pudding, Brussel sprout salad, potatoes and more.
“It will be a good healthy meal using local game, and fresh vegetables and fruit, and best of all it’s all completely free.
“There’s no criteria for attending, anybody can come along and have fun.”
As well as food, tombolas and raffles will also be held.
Mrs Blackett said the two lunches are a good way to get those feeling lonely or not part of the Deeside community to meet their neighbours and make new friends.
She added: “Last year, we had somebody who wanted to come and help because she was new in the community and didn’t know anyone.
“Well, she certainly knew a fair few people after that.
“It’s just a wonderful time for everyone in the community to come together, we’ll have the local retained firefighters coming from Balmoral, and the royal protection guys are coming too – it’s really for everybody.”
Donations are welcome but not necessary.
To reserve a spot for the Crathie lunch, phone 0779 350 3528, and to book a seat for the Aboyne event please phone 0759 419 6006
