A NEWPORT mother of five’s project to host a Christmas meal for local homeless people has become bigger than she imagined thanks to the public’s response.

The Argus highlighted how this is the first time that Kelly Probert-Wilmott, 37, has held the event, but she said it has always been an ambition of hers to host it.

She plans to feed around 100 people a Christmas dinner and a dessert at the car park behind Newport’s Job Centre, off Talbot lane, on December 22, at 7pm.

She also plans to offer tea and coffee, Christmas crackers and a gift bag containing useful items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, hat, scarf, gloves, socks and shower gel.

Following the article that ran at the start of the month, Mrs Probert-Wilmott, from Ringland, said: “Everything is going really well and people have been donating money for food and giving gift items.”

She has had so much food donated, and so many people saying they will attend, that that her friend’s hotdog food van isn’t big enough.

But thankfully she has been offered the use of a larger van, which will be driven down from Monmouthshire in return for a petrol donation to run the generator.

She said: “The smaller van will be on site to support the larger van, so I hope that if I can collect some more money to put towards this then the larger van will be where the hot food is served from.”

The owner of the van is also bringing a marquee so that people can take shelter if the weather is wet.

She added: “I can’t thank people enough for their support.”

Also Gibbos Fish Bar on Cromwell Road are providing have provided her roast potatoes and sausages for the event.

She has been going out in the evenings to speak to local homeless people to make sure that they know where to go for the Christmas dinner.

As the event is self-funded, she is still collecting donations of either money that will be used to buy food or items for the gifts bags.

She has been fully support by Newport City Church, and people wishing to drop in items can do so there between 10am and 2pm, any day but Monday and Saturday when the church is closed. Or people can email Mrs Probert-Wilmott on kellypw15@gmail.com or find her on Facebook.