December has, for several years now, been an active month for The Alfred Mizzi Foundation (TAMF) and Christmas 2025 has been no exception.

The event which has become synonymous with Christmas and the Foundation, is the Archbishop’s lunch – L-Ikla tal–Arċisqof – held every Christmas Day in the halls of the Curia in Floriana. For the last nine years, chefs and helpers at Kitchen Concepts have offered their time to prepare an ever-growing number of meals for this event. Last Christmas the number of guests topped 650, and the dining area expanded into the large central courtyard of the Curia where a large Marquee was set up. The standard menu, according to popular demand, is a cream of vegetable soup followed by stuffed turkey – dundjan moħxi – roast potatoes and braised seasonal vegetables. Accompanied by fresh crusty bread, this goes down as a treat. The event is coordinated masterfully by Caritas (Malta) assisted by an army of employees.

To round the day off on a sweet note, every guest leaves the party with a Bauli Pannettone.

Simultaneously some 7 kilometres away in Iklin, dozens of volunteers were loading their cars with Christmas meals to distribute to residences across the width and length of Malta. These delicious meals are prepared at Il-Kċina ta’ Marta, a dark kitchen located within the Archbishop’s Seminary Complex in tal -Virtu’, Rabat. Il-Kċina ta’ Marta is a partnership between the Archdiocese of Malta and The Alfred Mizzi Foundation. Each week close to 1000 meals are prepared, a different dish each day. Il-Kċina ta’ Marta distributes these meals to social centres and private residences. Each delivery bag included a mini Bauli and Cadbury chocolate too.

Dar Papa Franġisku, the Soup Kitchen and Night Shelter set up seven years ago, with Caritas and the Government, and now caters for around 70 persons each day, takes a break on Christmas Day, when the regulars are invited to join in the jolly atmosphere at the Curia. New Year’s Day lunch was a special treat with Chef Dylan preparing a 5-course meal.

The Foodbank Lifeline, a Foundation which has been supported by TAMF since its inception 10 years ago, worked on overdrive this Christmas, not only distributing its regular 300 weekly food hampers to needy families but also making the most of the “giving” season by collecting contributions which will support the Foundation during the coming months.

TAMF also supports 10 more organisations with food provisions each month.

Over its 21-year-old existence, The Alfred Mizzi Foundation has managed to build a strong support network through which, in collaboration with its various partners, it nourishes several thousand Maltese families and individuals each year.  AMSM food goes far further than to food stores.