Monday 26 January 2009

Help for those less fortunate


Support for the homeless
Over forty supporters of the St Martin's Housing Charity for the homeless of Norfolk, gathered at the Chuch Rooms in Old Buckenham on Saturday 24 January. Represented were Old Buckenham Women’s Institute, All Saints Church, Old Buckenham Trust 2000, New Buckenham Silver Band, J Sainsbury management from both Thetford and Attleborough, and other individuals, all having contributed to the Christmas Appeal.
Cheques amounting to £12,304 were handed over to Derek Player (General Manager of the charity) by Susan Hunter, President of Old Buckenham WI and a further £700 by Brian Parish, Chairman of Old Buckenham Trust 2000. The Trust provided collectors in the form of Father Christmas and Elves at supermarkets, assisted by a team from New Buckenham Silver Band who rendered carols to the Christmas shoppers.
Derek Player thanked those present for their effort and contribution which, when added to the street collection in Norwich, would amount to over £40,000. The money would be used within the charity towards setting up education facilities to assist and prepare users of the Drop in Centre (Night Shelter) to return to life in the community. It is hoped this will reduce the numbers returning to living on the streets of Norfolk. Derek also told those present that every bed within the Drop in Centre, and the Care Homes that they manage, were occupied all the 366 days of last year.
During the thank you talk, it was revealed that a previous user of the St Martin's facilities, now back on his feet, was shortly getting married and would be dressed in a suit recently taken to St Martins by a donor from New Buckenham.
The management of the Sainsbury stores were thanked for the facilities that they provided to allow the collections to take place while appreciating that without the collectors, both individual and those from supporting organisations, such collections would not be possible.

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