Warwick-based charity gives little act of kindness to homelessness charity supporting vulnerable people in community

A Warwick-based charity has given a little act of kindness to a local homelessness charity so that it can continue supporting vulnerable people in the community.

Evelyn’s Gift came to the aid of The Salvation Army’s Way Ahead Project based in Leamington when an appeal went out for non-perishable food.

The food is needed to add to lunch bags that are provided, five days a week, to rough sleepers now in temporary accommodation, as well as many of the Way Ahead Project’s regular visitors.

Stephanie Jackson, fundraiser at the Way Ahead Project, said: “Throughout this pandemic, it has been important to us that our doors remain open but we haven’t been able to do this through our regular drop-in sessions.

"Instead, we have been providing up to 300 lunch bags a week to over 50 people who would normally be on the streets, as well as vulnerably housed people that we were already supporting.

"Supplying this amount of food has been a huge challenge for us so we have had to rely on organisations like Evelyn’s Gift to make sure there was enough to go round.”

Evelyn’s Gift has supported the Way Ahead Project on a number of occasions during the past five years.

Helen Smith, charity founder, said: “The work of the team at the Way Ahead Project is an inspiration and we are very happy to contribute whenever we can by providing things like food or toiletry items to their clients.

"The project has adapted to the pandemic restrictions and continues to provide vital practical, mental health and emotional support for local people.”

As the lockdown eases, the Way Ahead Project is beginning to provide takeaway lunches from its base in Old Town as well as continuing to take packed lunches to those rough sleepers still shielding.

It is also finding that there is an increasing demand for emotional support amongst those who have found being inside overwhelming and isolating.

Stephanie added: “A key feature of the Way Ahead Project’s work is addressing the root causes of homelessness and helping people overcome them.

"Self-isolation has been really difficult for many of the people we work with and we know they are going to need our support if we are to help them remain off the streets and in suitable

tenancies.”

Donations to the Way Ahead Project can be made at: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/WayAheadProjectAppeal