Help really is at hand
New group aims to support those who struggle
A group of Paisley people is launching a new organisation tomorrow to boost those struggling to make ends meet.
The aim of A Helping Hand Paisley is to set up a weekly soup kitchen in the town centre that, as well as serving up hot food, will offer clothing, bedding, shoes and toiletries.
And Express readers are being invited to turn up to Paisley Abbey tomorrow to donate whatever items they can.
One of those involved in A Helping Hand Paisley is Vic Young, 47, who regularly attends the abbey.
He said: “It’s effectively a notfor-profit organisation. It’s not a charity.
“It was set up basically to provide some assistance for the homeless, people sleeping rough, people who doss from couch to couch, and even people who are struggling and don’t know where their next meal is coming from.”
The group has set up a Facebook page and more than 2,000 people have joined it so far.
Vic added: “We’ve got a huge amount of donations already of clothing, bedding, sanitary products and foodstuffs.
“We’ll have our first, for want of a better word, soup kitchen on Tuesday, November 13.
“This will be taking place at 8pm at the Marks & Spencer entrance in High Street.
“So we’ll be putting the word out that anybody who could benefit from this is welcome to come along.”
It is hoped that the soup kitchen will set up at the same spot in the High Street every week.
Vic explained: “We’re hoping to do it every week but I don’t know how ambitious that is going to be.
“As an organisation we are just trying to find our feet.
“We are learning quickly, so every week is what we’re aiming for.”
A Helping Hand Paisley has set up a website page where people can donate what money they can.
“We have not really been pushing too hard for money just now. It’s mostly been clothing and food – that kind of thing,” added Vic.
At the abbey tomorrow, it’s is hoped as many people as possible will turn up with items to donate.
“It’s an opportunity for anybody who’s got clothing or foodstuffs or sanitary products or bedding for adults to come along and donate it ahead of our first event on November 13,” said Vic.
One of the group’s founders, Steph Hill, is originally from South Wales but now lives in Linwood and had been helping out with a homelessness project in Glasgow.
Steph, 33, said: “Some local Paisley people got hold of me and asked me would I be able to help out around this area.
“For example, a lady was helping out a rough sleeper who was in Paisley and asked me if I had any large clothing and some shoes.
“So I gathered what I could and dropped them off at her house.
“She said that she knew about 14 rough sleepers.
“So that got me into researching it.”
Steph soon found out there was a great need for a soup kitchen, and so A Helping Hand Paisley was born.
“I knew it was something that needed to be done,” she said.
The team from A Helping Hand Paisley will be at Paisley Abbey tomorrow from 10.30am to 2.30pm.
Money can be donated at www. gofundme.com/a-helping-handpaisley
You can also arrange to make a donation of items by emailing ahelpinghandpaisley@ outlook. com and the organisation can also be found on Facebook.
We’re hoping to do it every week but I don’t know how ambitious that is Vic Young