By Benjamin Preiss
For the first time, David Formosa decided he would not spend Christmas Day with his family this year.
But his daughter sent a text message from Phillip Island on Christmas morning saying he made her proud and she loved him.
It was an emotional moment for the father of two adult daughters who chose to volunteer at the Sacred Heart Mission in St Kilda serving disadvantaged people lunch.
Despite missing his family, Mr Formosa, an IT worker, felt lucky to give up his time.
Volunteer David Formosa at the St.Kilda Sacred Heart Mission.Credit: Brook Mitchell
"It's a really humbling experience," he said.
Mr Formosa was among a small army of volunteers kitted out in aprons, rubber gloves, caps and hairnets. They served lunch to an expected 400 clients – many of them homeless.
Sacred Heart Mission acting chief executive Leanne Lewis said it was physically taxing work for the volunteers in the sizzling heat.
"But the clients coming in are just so grateful," she said. "It's just so important at this time of year that people who are socially isolated have got somewhere to come and be around other people and feel welcomed."
Volunteers (from left) Robyn Findlay, Megan Reilly and Kevin Rooney dish up Christmas cheer at the Sacred Heart Mission.Credit: Brook Mitchell
Sacred Heart Mission serves lunch every day of the year but for Christmas Day clients were treated to prawn cocktails, cream of cauliflower soup, turkey, ham and mushroom risotto. For dessert there was plum pudding with custard.
Ms Lewis said the team of 40 volunteers were a crucial part of the Sacred Heart Mission's activities.
Ms Reilly and Mr Rooney get the message across.Credit: Brook Mitchell
"We have had to turn away many people who have generously offered to volunteer at Christmas, but instead we encourage them to come another time, especially in January when everyone is away."
Over in Richmond, it was a more intimate affair as Helen O'Hagan opened her cafe, Nourish Me, to all comers for a free lunch.
Ms O'Hagan added her Christmas Day lunch to a list compiled by the Council to Homeless Persons. Together with her son, brother and eight more volunteers they served up a feast, including roast chicken, ham, salad and desserts to anyone wanting to join them.
Putting on a Christmas Day spread was a "spur of the moment" decision, but Ms O'Hagan said it might become her tradition.
Many people had helped with her business in the past two years and the Christmas Day lunch was her way of paying the favours forward, she said..
Joy Davis stopped by for lunch at the cafe with her friend George Hall. Ms Davis said she was no longer in touch with her family so she decided to have lunch at Nourish Me.
"I enjoy going around to these parties to be with people I've got to know through the Salvation Army. I have met George and other ones. I class them as my family now," she said.