Former homeless man appeals for furniture donations
Charity which helps the homeless has a shop in the town centre
TONY Cameron was once homeless but credits Emmaus, a charity which works to end homelessness and helps to recycle unwanted furniture, with saving his life.
During national Recycle Week, Tony called on local people to donate and “recycle” unwanted items of retro furniture to help Hinckley-based Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland.
Each year, the charity ensures that more than 6,000 pieces of unwanted furniture are saved from the rubbish tip, offering a free collection service for items in good condition.
The collected goods are then sold in their two Hinckley shops, the Emmaus Emporium on Stockwell Head and La Boutique on Castle Street.
Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland provides a home, support and meaningful work to 16 formerly homeless individuals.
Some stay for a while as they gain confidence and skills before they feel ready to move on to independent living, while others are in need of longer-term support and are able to stay for as long as they need to.
When Tony was at his lowest point, support from Emmaus made all the difference.
He said: “My life was pretty normal until I was unable to get to work one day and I lost my job. After a while I couldn’t pay my rent and got kicked out of my accommodation.
“With nowhere to go, I slept underneath a flyover for three months. It is only thanks to help from Emmaus that I’m back on my feet again.
“I now have a home and I enjoy working in the charity shops, especially sorting through the things that have been donated.”
Tony is now calling on local people to help, adding: “Furniture items often help to raise the most money for the charity, especially retro wooden furniture.
“We’re asking people to take a look around their house, sheds, lofts and garages – if they have any quality furniture they don’t need, they can call us to book a free collection from their home.”
Speaking about the plea, Emmaus Leicestershire & Rutland’s shop manager, Simon Rai, said: “People sometimes don’t realise that their old furniture – especially large retro items such as wooden sideboards - can be given a new lease of life.
“We’re proud to think that, by offering our free collection service for quality unwanted furniture, we’re doing our bit to encourage people to think more about recycling.
“It’s a great alternative to taking unwanted furniture to the tip. We hope that our local community will pull together to help Emmaus make a difference - everything sold in our shops will raise money to help us change the lives of formerly homeless people like Tony.”
To book a free collection for unwanted furniture, please call Hinckley 637587 or visit www. emmaus.org.uk/leicestershirerutland