Public back Ben’s Christmas appeal Online plea to help Glasgow’s homeless

A teenager has been praised for helping the homeless at Christmas.

Ben Geddes, an S2 pupil at Coatbridge High, organised a collection from friends and neighbours to bring festive cheer to destitute people in Glasgow last Sunday.

The 13-year-old made an appeal on social media and his family were inundated with donations of quilts, sleeping bags, blankets, clothes, toiletries and food.

Bakers Walkers Bon Bon provided Ben and his band of good Samaritans with a supply of savouries and cakes, while Phoenix Hair & Beauty organised a collection for the appeal at their Coatbridge salon. Staff at Holytown Convenience Store donated boxes of crisps.

Ben told the Advertiser: “I launched my appeal because it’s Christmas and a lot of homeless people don’t have anything to keep them warm.”

The charitable teen was also supported by his teachers and schoolmates.

Karen Dunion, the school’s acting depute head, said: “It’s fantastic what he’s doing.

“We are very proud of Ben and delighted that he has taken this time and effort to help others.”

Ben, his mum Wendy, dad Patrick, and a group of their friends dropped off the supplies and donations to the Simon Community Scotland hub in Glasgow at the weekend.

Wendy told us: “I’m so proud of Ben for coming up with this idea.

“The majority of people who saw the posts on Facebook wanted to get involved. Everyone has been absolutely brilliant.

“It’s just heartbreaking to see all the homeless people at this time of year.”

The family thanked everyone who donated.

Francine Rowe, a worker at the Simon Community Scotland hub said: “It was amazing the amount of donations that were collected by such a young boy.

“The amount of stuff he collected was unbelievable. We are so grateful to him and his family for their generosity.”

Teamwork Ben and his parents at the Simon Community