It was Christmas dinner street-style on Monday night.

The Monday Milo Night community meets at the bus stop shelter in Willow Street each Monday night, and over the last year has grown from just being based around sharing a Milo and a chat, to supporting people faced with homelessness in many additional ways.

On Monday night, Delicacy Café in 11^th Ave provided a Christmas ham and salads. Bread, chicken and buns completed the ample meal which was enjoyed by the group. There was even a special treat for Pup, a dog who lives with his owner on the street.

One of the organisers, Tracey Carlton, was thrilled at the delicious meal provided. Well-known for her enthusiastic exuberance and encouragement, she was quick to start thanking those who had contributed.

'Big thanks to Sandy and team at Delicacy Café!” says Tracey. 'And thank you to Steffi and Kerri for yummy bread and buns!

'Massive shout out to our awesome volunteers - Grant, Margaret, Courtney, Pip and Ian, Peter, Steffi, James, Jonathon and friend, Kat and Duncan ... you're all amazing sharing your aroha, presence, time and caring for our peeps...you all totally rock!! Big hugs to Kat and Duncan for your wonderful clothing...thank you! Awesome!”

'Delicacy Café have supported us through this whole year, and beyond,” says Pip Brook, one of the Milo Night organisers. 'They support Tracey, Ian, myself, Margaret, Courtney, Grant, Anne and Steffi, and we all help our homeless people.

'We will be having Monday Milo Night now through into next year. We also will be organising Christmas Day up at the rose gardens for the homeless too. So we keep going and we keep feeding them, we just do what we do.”

The meal was completed with flatwhites, mochacinos, and what Tracey calls ‘flash hot choccys'.

Tents, blankets, clothes, razors and sanitary products are also supplied by volunteers to those who needed any of the items.

Monday Milo Night is held at the bus stop in Willow Street.

The weekly gathering is run by a team of volunteers who registered the name Street Kai Association Inc. in May 2018. As well as supporting the community of homeless people around food, conversation and acceptance, support is also given for clothing needs, helping with Government agencies such as WINZ, housing services and banking.

The Monday Milo Night held at 5.30pm on Monday nights at the Willow Street bus stop will continue through the Christmas and New Year holiday period, as will the Sikh Sunday dinners held at 6pm on Sunday nights.

'We always welcome vollies (volunteers) and kai to be shared,” says Tracey.

Razors, shampoo, clothing and sanitary items are also provided.