Linda is providing bags of help for homeless women
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ABURSCOUGH woman has begun encouraging and collecting donations for the homeless after seeing an idea on Facebook. Linda Shelton, 48, was scrolling through her Facebook feed when she discovered a popular meme suggesting an idea of how to help rough sleepers.
The meme said: “Have a purse at home you no longer use? Fill it with snacks, sanitary & hygiene products. Next time you see a homeless woman, give it to her.”
The post, which has been shared over 2.5k times, encouraged Linda to get involved and try it in her local community.
Linda Shelton said: “I literally saw a meme that said fill a handbag and give it to a homeless lady.
“I was only trolling through and thought that people may also want to do something for those homeless.
“I thought I might try the idea and use the power of Facebook.”
Taking to social media, Linda began sharing the post with friends, family and local community groups to gauge how the response would be.
Linda then made up a few bags of her own and started up collection points at her home address and at Grove Community Centre in Burscough.
And the response has been positive.
Linda Shelton said: “I’ve never done anything like this before.
“My friend from Liverpool said she would just fill a bag up and give it to a homeless lady. It’s not going to save the world but... Anything makes a difference, just going to a shop and adding a few more items to a shopping list.
“If one more person fills a handbag that will change someone’s day.”
Donated used handbags and manbags can be filled with any hygiene or sanitary products, such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, body wash or food.
Linda has also been in touch with Light for Life in Southport, who support men, women and children who are homeless and/or rough sleepers and they have agreed to receive and distribute the bags around the area.
She hopes to be able to do similar appeals around Christmas time with donations of woolly items and food for different charities in the future.
Donations can be made to Grove Community Centre between 9.30am4pm on Wednesday’s and between 9.30am-4pm on Thursday’s. ● For more information about the scheme contact Linda Shelton on 07751 030373.