WHEN Ryan Gosling (no, not that Ryan Gosling), realised he was going to be alone last Christmas, he threw himself into organising meals to give away to vulnerable people locally.

Ryan, 32, from Chalkwell, started Jingle Meals after the Tier 4 lockdown was announced.

The word spread on social media and he enlisted the help of Gjovan Pacani, the owner of the Leigh Bistro in Leigh.

Ryan said: “Gjovan is such a nice person and loves his community. He did so much last year helping with Jingle Meals on top of his restaurant meals.”

They raised almost £1,500 on Just Giving, and were able to feed 120 lonely, elderly and vulnerable people.

“One lady, who had three children, had lost her husband and dad to Covid-19,” said Ryan.

“We tailored the meals to them and gave that family chocolates, balloons and flowers as well. She messaged me to say I hadn’t just brought a meal, I have brought love and hope to them as well.”

This year Ryan has set his sights on feeding 500 people, and is hoping for more restaurants to help with meals and donations from businesses for gift baskets.

He is also looking for volunteers to help deliver food. He will be setting up a drop-in centre at St Michael and All Angels church in Leigh on Christmas Day.

“It would be great to get more restaurants on board in Leigh, Southend, Chalkwell and Shoeburyness so we can get to more vulnerable and lonely people,” said Ryan.

Ryan dedicates each Christmas to volunteering with a charity which works with youngsters with ADHD.

When the pandemic hit he wanted to continue the tradition closer to home. Ryan says he was named after the famous actor Ryan O’Neal rather than Ryan Gosling.

He likes his name and the attention it brings with it.

“When I was 16 Ryan Gosling starred in The Notebook and I would get more and more comments about my name,” he said.

“One time I went to American to do a presentation for work and the person introducing me said ‘I know you ladies are here to see Ryan Gosling and here he is’. I thought I’d better go out with a joke, so I said: ‘Yes, I am the low rent Ryan Gosling, the British version.”

Go to www.justgiving. com/crowdfunding/jinglemeals2021. If you know someone who would benefit email jinglemeals@gmail.com.