Kind-hearted staff from the Southern Trust have done their bit to help the homeless through a festive fundraising initiative.
The idea came from Anita Lavery, of the Southern Trust’s financial planning team, who asked her colleagues to help raise money to provide hats, gloves, thermals and other winter clothing for the homeless this Christmas.
Staff dug deep and an amazing £420 was collected which bought a wide selection of clothing for both men and women.
This was then donated to the Welcome Centre in Belfast.
Anita said: “Having heard a recent news report on the radio about the growing problem around homelessness, I have decided this year to organise a collection to hopefully get sufficient funds to help in some small way to ease the suffering of homeless people this Christmas and to buy much needed items such as scarves, gloves, hats, socks and jumpers.
“The Welcome Centre is an organisation working with, and for, people affected by or at risk of homelessness.
“This charity works across Belfast, where the numbers of homeless people are increasing, and provides high levels of support to both those visiting the centre and the many that are sleeping rough night after night in Belfast City Centre and surrounding areas, with only a shop front as shelter and a cardboard box for a bed.
“I would like to thank everyone who contributed and made this possible; as I’m sure you will agree that anyone who is homeless and living on the streets currently will be extremely grateful to receive any of these items.”
