Nicola to hit streets
Started with toy collection
Local hero to reach out to homeless this winter
A selfless Cambuslang mum, who has devoted three Christmases to collecting toys for kids who would otherwise go without, is now pledging to take to the streets of Glasgow with her teenage daughter to ease the plight of homeless people.
Nicola O’Brien first set up a Christmas toy donation station in Morrisons’ Cambuslang store where she works three years ago.
“I have two weans of my own, Molly and Jessica, and you realise they get too much at Christmas,” explained Nicola.
“There are weans on our own doorstep who don’t have anything. You wouldn’t believe the amount of stuff that’s donated. Some of it is even used for birthdays.”
Generous shoppers and staff have been donating to this year’s toy donation point established by mum of two Nicola since November 14.
In recent weeks, Nicola has made frequent trips with boxes of donated new toys to the Cambuslang family centre, where she helps to sort the toys into age groups of newborn to 16 before volunteers and Social Work distribute them to families.
But that’s not the only way in which kind-hearted Nicola gives up her time to make life better for others.
In September, Nicola ‘braved the shave’ to have her dark locks shaved off to raise funds for The Little Princess Trust – a charity which supplies and funds high quality wigs made of real hair to children who have experienced hair loss as a result of treatment for cancer and other illnesses.
Her close shave at the County Inn in Eastfield in September raised more than £2000 in memory of her daughters’ gran, Margaret Miller, who died three years ago from lung cancer at the age of 60.
Nicola also recently set up a shoe box collection point in Morrisons at which shoppers are encouraged to donate boxes filled with cosy socks, hats, scarves, toiletries and powdered soups and noodles to make life more bearable for people sleeping on Glasgow’s streets this winter.
And when she returns to work after recovering from recent surgery, Nicola will hand over the filled shoe boxes to non profit-making community group, Glasgow Homeless Street Team.
She and 13-year-old daughter Molly – a pupil at Stonelaw High – will then join Homeless Street Team volunteers as they walk Glasgow city centre two days a week to give out food, hot drinks and clothing to their friends on the streets.
“I feel it would open up my eyes if I saw half of what is going on in the streets,” explained Nicola, 36, of Kings Avenue.
“With Universal Credit, homelessness just seems to be going up and up, rather than getting better. I plan to take Molly with me. She is like me. She just wants to make a difference.”
Her sister, Maxine, who is full of admiration for her, thought Nicola deserves recognition for all her efforts to bring cheer to people less fortunate than her.
In nominating Nicola for the Reformer’s Say it with Flowers competition, 28-year-old Maxine told us: “She’s such a selfless person with a heart of gold who would go the extra mile for anyone. Every year, she works with local centres to get kids not so privileged to get presents, to make sure they at least get a little something. Well, now I think my big sister who I am so proud of should get a little something special back in return.”
Janet Freeman, owner of contemporary, luxury florist, Stems of Burnside, got to work on a stunning bouquet especially with Nicola in mind.
Maxine surprised her big sister by handing over the beautiful hand-tied blooms from Stems on Stonelaw Road to tell her just how much she looks up to her.
She’s a selfless person with a heart of gold Maxine