Public rally to help homeless
ARUNCORN hostel has hailed the generosity of residents and wellwishers from further afield after being flooded with donated clothes and shoes to provide warmth during the cold weather.
Creative Support Halton Lodge, which took over the centre from the YMCA 18 months ago, received £200 from Rowlands Pharmacy, £137.50 collected by Halton Credit Union plus a real Christmas tree from Rivendell Garden Centre.
Chester University even chipped in by providing decorations, treats and other goodies.
The donations helped to kickstart the hostel’s festive season with residents making cards, chocolate logs and other items.
Staff also ran a prize draw advent calendar to pick a winner of an chocolate Santa, which a Creative Support spokeswoman said had proved a hit
She said the hostel accommodates 66 residents who are homeless or at risk of being homeless, adding that caseworkers work to help residents back on their feet, boost their confidence and independence, and eventually move on to a place of their own.
Lydia O’Hara, activities and engagement worker, ● said: “We have been really touched by the generosity of the local community.
“The impact even a very small gesture can have on someone’s day can be massive, so to be given the opportunity to use donations to help all of our residents feel a bit special over the festive period is fantastic.”
She added: “The hostel accommodates people from all walks of life with a range of different needs, but one common thread is that they all have stories to tell.
“The festive season can be a particularly hard time.
“Many will spend their Christmas at the hostel without friends or family to go to. With this in mind staff do everything they can to make it a special, happy, fun occasion, full of all the usual joys of Christmas – food, laughter and quality time shared with other people.
“Given the current economic climate,. times are hard for charities and funding can be hard to come by, but the people of Halton have stepped up to help make this a Christmas to remember.
Anyone interested in making any donations or volunteering at Creative Support Halton Lodge can email lydia.ohara@creativesupport.org.uk or call 01928 591 680.