‘Fantastic response’ to shoebox gift appeal
AN appeal to help the homeless this Christmas has received an overwhelming response.
Around 700 wrapped shoeboxes containing items to get people through the cold weather have been donated and are now being distributed.
The appeal was organised by hospital ward administrator Natasha Jenkins from Pyle.
Having done the appeal two years ago, during which she received 80 boxes, Natasha thought that this time she would post a request for donations on Facebook.
But the response from businesses and the community left her astonished.
“I am absolutely overwhelmed. It’s just taken off,” she said.
“It got to the point where the response was so big I was panicking that the charities wouldn’t be able to take them all.
“I can’t believe people’s generosity.”
Natasha, husband David and friend Joanne Cavill took in the donations on Saturday at the Music Wales Studios in Pyle after owner Paul Thomas opened it up for them.
David said: “It’s gone crazy. We weren’t expecting it to be honest.
“We asked people to donate essentials, but we’ve had people bringing Tarpaulin, blankets and food items.
“It’s been emotional. The response has been fantastic.”
Among the companies which helped by doing their own collections and dropping them off was the Harvester restaurant in Sarn, View2Rent, Porters estate agents in Bridgend and the Rose and Crown in Porthcawl.
The boxes have been distributed to homelessness charity The Wallich, in Bridgend and Swansea, and Emmaus in Bridgend.
Natasha, who works on ward 10 at the Princess of Wales Hospital, said she wished to give special thanks to Rebecca Porter and Lorraine and Melanie at Harvester.
She said: “Lorraine and Melanie have given amazing support and are still continuing to collect the boxes.”