Angels delight the homeless
ON A trip to Manchester for her son’s ninth birthday, Hertfordshire mum Lisa Patnick was so shocked by the level of homelessness that she decided she had to do something.
The result was the creation of a charity, Urban Angels, which has been providing warm clothes for the homeless in London and Manchester, distributed by teams of volunteers. A drop-in centre was also set up with the help of Manchester Reform Synagogue.
“We meet a homeless person, talk to them and give them cake,” the 37-yearold said.
“A piece of cake and a conversation goes a very long way when you are ignored by the masses.”
Although the charity is new, Mrs Patnick is no stranger to helping the homeless.
“A couple of years ago, a few like- minded mums and dads decided to hit the streets of London in the cold to give out items.
“We thought we would put something about it on Facebook and it went viral One of the women we met said we were like angels. That’s where the name was born.”
She added: “So many people want to help but they just do not know how. Our charity is growing and we are looking for sponsors to give our angels wings.”
UNITED SYNAGOGUES in North London and Herts have been cooking up a storm as part of Tikun’s Light Up A Life programme, supporting the disadvantaged.
Young people have been to the fore of the culinary effort with sessions featuring the mother and daughter batmitzvah classes at Barnet and Hendon shuls and members of Tribe’s Learn to Volunteer venture in Finchley. It was also the barmitzvah project of Damon Waks — with his family and friends — at Radlett Synagogue.
As well as helping with food costs, Tikun provided speakers to talk about the importance of good deeds.
Recipients included needy congregants, the homeless and victims of domestic and sexual abuse. Barnet Winter Shelter Scheme, Muswell Hill Soup Kitchen, Solace Women’s Aid and Rhythms of Life, helping the homeless, were among linked organisations.
Michelle Minsky, head of US Chesed, said the cookery sessions also had a social aspect “and we are putting the kitchen facilities in our shuls to good use.
“Chesed at the United Synagogue is all about helping both our own and the wider community and this is an example of putting that into practice.”