Donations keep homeless warm this winter (From Worcester News)
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Donations keep Worcester's homeless warm this winter
1:46pm Saturday 12th January 2013 in News
By Sarah Davies
Louise Shaw, PR ambassador at Sainsbury's St John's, Mayor of Worcester Roger Berry and Lisa Richards, administrator and fundraiser for St Paul's Hostel, collect warm clothing at the hostel's donation drive. Picture by Paul Jackson. 0213220301.
KIND-hearted shoppers are helping ensure homeless people in Worcester keep warm this winter.
Staff and volunteers from St Paul’s Hostel in Tallow Hill are holding a donation drive this weekend at Sainsbury’s in St John’s to collect socks, scarves, hats jumpers and other items of warm clothing for residents of its night shelter.
The project, which is open between November and March, provides safe and warm overnight accommodation for people who would otherwise find themselves sleeping rough at the coldest time of year.
A similar drive in November saw customers give enough donations of food to fill seven-and-a-half shopping trollies, which will see the hostel through until the end of the night shelter.
Donna King, director of services at the hostel and night shelter manager, said she had been overwhelmed by the generosity of Worcester residents.
She said: “The night shelter is a life-saver. On average, we have between 18 and 25 people each night.
“We really want to thank people [for their donations]. We’ve been overwhelmed, so much so we think we can share our food with other agencies in the city.”
Mayor of Worcester Councillor Roger Berry, who has chosen St Paul’s Hostel and Maggs Day Centre as his mayoral charities, visited the drive this morning.
He urged people to continue supporting both projects.
Coun Berry said: “It’s really great to be supporting St Paul’s and to see the level of awareness people have about the problem of homelessness in Worcester, and it’s really nice to see the co-operation we have got from Sainsbury’s.
“Everybody’s so aware at this time of year but, of course, homelessness is a year round problem.
“It’s great to see people coming forward and there’s a good feeling from the community towards St Paul’s. I’d urge people to continue supporting them.”
Coun Berry will be hosting the city’s first Homelessness Action Day on Saturday, January 26 at the Guildhall.
The free event will take place from 10am to 4pm and members of the public can find out more about what organisations are doing in Worcester to help people facing homelessness, as well as volunteering opportunities and other ways to support their work.
