Old Cottage Coffee Shop

Can you help the Old Cottage Coffee Shop’s 2022 Christmas meal for older people?

Darryl Chamberlain

Old Cottage Cafe sign appealing for donations

Back in the days before the pandemic, the Old Cottage Coffee Shop in Charlton Park used to invite older people around on Christmas Day for a festive meal. Then Covid struck, and they had to switch to deliveries.

This year, the Christmas meal is back. But with a month to go, café bosses Mimi and Michael need your help.

– Firstly, do you know any older people that would appreciate a meal and some company on Christmas Day? If so, drop Mimi a note via m.speak9[at]icloud.com. There’s no charge for the meal.

– Secondly, can you help donate gifts to hand out to their guests, such as toiletries or things to help them keep warm? Or can you make a cash donation towards the project? Email m.speak9[at]icloud.com if you can help.

– Finally, Mimi and Michael are thinking of keeping the deliveries going as well. If you’d like to help out on Christmas morning, then drop them a line.

Need to know more? Drop in at the café between 9am and 4pm Wednesdays to Mondays – they’ll be delighted to hear from you.

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Old Cottage Coffee Shop makes starring appearance on BBC London News

Darryl Chamberlain
BBC London cameraman and reporter outside cafe
The BBC London team filmed at Charlton Park yesterday

Most people in Charlton will know about the Old Cottage Coffee Shop, and so do a whole community of parkrunners. But SE7’s favourite café had a starring role yesterday in BBC London’s coverage of former Greenwich councillor Liz Truss becoming the next prime minister. The piece also visits the Greenwich Foodbank.

On the other side, ITV London visited west Greenwich (including the Golden Chippy) – watch from 4:55 into the story (live until this evening).

Video used by arrangement with BBC Local News Partnerships.

LIKE WHAT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION DOES? HELP US KEEP IT GOING

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. But it won’t survive without your help.

– Please tell us about your news and events – we reach people who stay away from social media groups
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion.

Can you help the Old Cottage Coffee Shop bring Christmas cheer to older people?

Darryl Chamberlain
Old Cottage Coffee Shop
You can also pick up some Christmas cards in the Old Cottage Coffee Shop

Last year, during what was a bleak Christmas when most of us were obeying the pandemic restrictions, the good people at the Old Cottage Coffee Shop in Charlton Park delivered cards, gifts and Christmas meals to older people on 25 December. Some 120 local people helped out by chipping in with cards, gifts and donations.

They’re doing it again this year. Can you help the cafe’s Mimi and Michael by donating gifts and writing cards? If you can, drop in at the cafe (open Wed-Sun, 9am-4pm) or drop them a message on Twitter (@oldcoffeeshop).

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. And we’ll do the others better than anyone else. We can’t do it without your help.
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Old Cottage Coffee Shop customers rally round for Christmas – and raise £1,000 for hospice

Darryl Chamberlain
Old Cottage Cafe
The cafe was unable to open for Christmas, but scores of people helped anyway

More than 120 customers of the Old Cottage Coffee Shop in Charlton Park rallied round to help 24 elderly people have a happy Christmas, writing cards and helping to deliver food.

The cafe usually invites older people round for Christmas dinner – but with that not possible this year, it asked customers – including readers of The Charlton Champion – to help with donations of gifts, food and money, and to help drive the parcels to the recipients’ homes.

As well as the gifts and food, 280 cards were written, and a total of £1,619 was raised – meaning £1,031 can be given to the Greenwich and Bexley Community Hospice.

Help came from as far away as St Thomas a Becket primary school in Abbey Wood, whose pupils sent cards, while the Co-op in Charlton Village, Tesco in Woolwich and Hachi Sushi Grill, also in Woolwich, helped out too.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
– Please tell us about your news and events
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Can you help the Old Cottage Coffee Shop’s 2020 Christmas appeal?

Darryl Chamberlain1 Comment
Old Cottage Cafe
Can you help the Old Cottage Coffee Shop this Christmas?

The Old Cottage Coffee Shop in Charlton Park is one of the area’s local gems. Earlier this year, its owners Michael and Mimi were delivering food to the vulnerable during the spring lockdown. And every Christmas Day, it has hosted festive dinners for the elderly.

Things are different this year – so they are making 24 boxes to deliver to older people on Christmas Day. And Michael and Mimi are asking for your help.

Can you write a Christmas card for each person? Michael and Mimi will send you a name and you can write a personal message.

Can you donate presents and snacks for nine men and 15 women?

Can you help deliver on Christmas Day between 11am and noon?

…or could you donate cash to help the project?

If you can help, drop in at the cafe (open Wed-Sun, 9am-4pm), text 07737 922 792 or email m.speak9[at]icloud.co.uk.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
– Please tell us about your news and events
– Become a monthly supporter at presspatron.com/charltonchampion
– Donate to our running costs at paypal.me/charltonchampion

Old Cottage Cafe fundraiser breaks through the £6,000 mark

Neil Clasper1 Comment
The Old Cottage Cafe in Charlton Park
The cafe has been closed since the break-in on Saturday night

Our thanks to SIMON SHORT for an update on the fundraiser set up to support Charlton Park’s Old Cottage Cafe after it was burgled and damaged on Saturday night:

I set up the Gofundme page on Sunday morning, and since then the total that has been donated is over £6,100.

Having spoken to Michael again at lunchtime today to get the money deposited into his account, he told me how amazing he thought the response had been and he was really touched by the comments that everyone has left on the site.

It doesn’t look like they’ll be able to open again this week, but hopefully this money will make sure that they are able to get back to being the much loved stop-off that everyone clearly loves so much.

I’d like to add how nice it has been from my point of view, seeing the comments coming in for them too. I should however have set the page up NOT to have sent me an email every time there was a donation or comment – my phone didn’t stop pinging all day on Sunday. A nice problem to have.”

The fundraising page is still open if you would like to contribute. Anyone with any information on the break-in should call 101 or use the Metropolitan Police website. We’ll bring you news on when the cafe will reopen as soon as we have it.

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Fundraiser launched after Charlton’s Old Cottage Cafe hit by break-in

Darryl Chamberlain3 Comments
Old Cottage Cafe
The break-in took place overnight

The community has rallied round the Old Cottage Cafe in Charlton Park after it was hit by a break-in overnight.

Burglars broke into the much-loved cafe, stealing money and a cash register and leaving furniture overturned and crockery smashed up.

A fundraiser has been launched to get the cafe back on its feet, while customers have been offering their help.

Old Cottage Cafe
Thieves stole Saturday’s takings and a cash register
Old Cottage Cafe
Work is taking place to secure the cafe

At noon today, the fundraiser had seen £580 pledged. You can pledge cash here. (Update: It sailed through its £1,000 target at 12.40pm.)

Among those offering their help have been local MP Matt Pennycook.

The cafe is closed and police have been on site, with locals turning up to help. Anyone with any information should call 101 or use the Metropolitan Police website. If you can offer practical help in the days ahead – we understand a plumber is particularly needed today – then drop by the cafe.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHARLTON CHAMPION

We tell the SE7 stories you won’t read elsewhere. We can’t do it without your help.
– Please tell us about your news and events
– Become a monthly supporter at patreon.com/charltonchampion
– Donate to our running costs at paypal.me/charltonchampion