One of Bermuda’s most popular Christmas dinners for the disadvantaged has been cancelled, but charities pledged yesterday that the less fortunate will not be forgotten this festive season.

Chef Michiko Campbell, who has served hundreds of people at Albuoy’s Point on Christmas Eve for the past three years, said work commitments had forced him into a change of plans.

Mr Campbell said: “Unfortunately, things have been very busy for me this year, so we have had to make the decision to postpone the event until next year.

“Southampton Princess was trying to take it up but by the time they contacted me this year I had already told my volunteers that it would be postponed, so it was a bit too late.”

Mr Campbell added: “It was a hard decision. I always like to do it, but I just don’t have the time this year. I am also going to be a father in May, so that is keeping me busy.”

Mr Campbell said work had already begun to bring the event back in 2018.

He added: “I have created a team to help move things forward so we can do the event next year, and we are looking to do something else in the new year to help.

“This is not something that I will let just go away.”

Charity Grateful Bread will still provide a festive dinner for several hundred people on Thursday and the Salvation Army is running several campaigns.

The Hamilton Seventh-day Adventist Church will hold its Christmas Day lunch at noon at its centre on King Street, Hamilton, where about 200 people are expected to be fed.

Grateful Bread, which organised regular meals for the needy throughout the year, will offer its holiday meal at Astwood Hall in Hamilton’s Church Street.

Juliana Snelling, one of the group’s organisers, said: “We feel grateful every day that we are on the serving side of the table, and we want to share our gratitude with the less fortunate.

“We also want to help heal social and racial divisions in Bermuda.

“Bermuda is a tiny but ridiculously wealthy country and no one should ever go hungry here.

“We love throwing a fun party every month, where more than 300 people come together in a social setting and where race, politics, age, success and class don’t matter.

“Last month, our guests stood up at our Thanksgiving meal to shout out that they were grateful for life. That’s the joy we are talking about.”

Guests will also be given clothes and household items as well as a hot meal.

The Salvation Army’s Christmas Kettle campaign has this month raised cash for a Christmas hamper programme for seniors and families, a toy drive for children and hot meals for the homeless and seniors.

Martha Dismont of Family Centre said all charitable efforts were welcome.

She added: “There is an outpouring of support for families at this time of year that is unprecedented at any other time of the year.

“Many families look forward to this giving spirit well before Christmas, so you can imagine that it means a great deal to many.

“For some families, the hamper will include meats like chicken, turkey, or ham, which they have not had for some time.

“Other families will try to make the hampers last over a long period as this is more groceries than they can typically afford.”

Ms Dismont said that some fathers would ask for hampers to help feed their families.

She added: “It is humbling for many, and often embarrassing for some. Individuals need sustained success, so as much as we celebrate with these families that they are recipients of these wonderful hampers, the real celebration will take place when families can be self-sustaining and not reliant upon this help.”

She said Family Centre was grateful for the many gifts it has received to help families in need and urged the public to give this holiday season.

Ms Dismont added: “Many families would not survive the Christmas season without this support.

“They all need to feel that others care about their circumstances and are willing to support them in their desire to normalise the Christmas season.”