Rockingham cafe Jaffelato serves Christmas compassion

Railway Terrace cafe owner Ali Bale is doing Christmas differently this year to help the community’s less fortunate and teach her own children a lesson in giving.

Ms Bale is throwing open the doors of Jaffelato on Christmas morning to host a pay-what-you can share-and-care from 10am-3pm, offering those who can’t afford a meal or who have no one to spend the day with the chance to grab a toasted sandwich in company.

The idea is an extension of the cafe’s existing pay-it-forward system, where regulars pay in advance for local homeless people’s meals or coffee.

“We thought it’d be a nice way of giving back at Christmas and thanking everyone for their support this year,” Ms Bale said.

Ms Bale said there will be no pressure for people to pay and she wants people to just enjoy the day and the atmosphere.

“Anyone can come in and we’ve asked people if they’ve got some free time to come down and spend some time and have a chat, play a game, stuff like that,” she said.

“We’ll hopefully be getting people out of the house who are sitting there all day on their own, saying welcome and spend some time with someone and don’t be alone.

“It’s not just about food it’s also about a family feel.”