A Tayside restaurant team are urging other venues to join them in dishing up festive food parcels for the needy on Christmas Eve.
The staff at Manzil restaurant in Perth city centre will be handing out free Christmas meals on December 24 to anybody who will be homeless, alone or unable to cook for themselves on Christmas Day.
Goody bags stuffed with curry, rice and Christmas crackers will be available for anyone who need them at the York Place Indian restaurant.
Manager Gulam Ransool and assistant manager Danyal Kamal said it was their way of giving back to the community which had supported them over the year.
Mr Kamal said: “We’re going to be handing out packages on Christmas Eve. There are homeless people in Perth who are where they are because something has taken a bad turn in their life.
“Christmas is a happy time for some, but if things aren’t going your way, it can be miserable.
“We want to encourage other restaurants to join in and give something away. If we can do it for one day, so can you.
“Christmas is the time for giving and we do well, so we’d like to give something back.”
The restaurant will be open from 5pm to 10.30pm as usual, and staff will be handing out the gifts all evening.
Elsewhere in Perth, Must Eat in North Methven Street is giving away food between 3pm and 4pm daily until the new year. The scheme is being backed by Churches Action for The Homeless (CATH), which organised a recent sleepout in Perth. If it proves a success, it could be run again into 2020.
On Christmas Day itself, South Street fish and chip shop Holdgates will be opening between 11am and 1pm to provide food for anyone on their own.
A spokesperson said: “Sadly we have seen too many homeless people on our streets recently and we would love to help spread some festive love and cheer.
“We would love to welcome any homeless people and elderly people on their own from the local area to enjoy a free festive takeaway sausage supper with a cup of tea or coffee.
