A GOOD Friday tea was laid on for Oxford’s homeless thanks to staff from the Tesco store in Magdalen Street.

The store and individual staff donated and cooked platefuls of buffet food and Easter Eggs for the special tea at the Gatehouse Centre at St Giles Parish Rooms.

Tesco manager Chris Rogers said: “There are a lot of vulnerable people in the centre of Oxford and sometimes it’s the right thing to do to put something back into the local community and support people where we can.

Our top stories

A lot of our customers see homeless people in the streets and see Tesco as a big company, and it’s right we should do something.”

It is not the first time Tesco staff have pitched in to help those in need. Last winter they supported a clothing campaign to provide winter clothes for the homeless and vulnerable.

Fiona Hurman, assistant project director for Gatehouse – which normally provides teas for homeless residents six days each week – said: “It means that the people who come here feel accepted and valued because other members of the community are wanting to support them in a practical way.”

Gatehouse is entirely funded by donations and rents the parish rooms from St Giles Church.