Hi everyone, sorry for the late update from last night, I had a friend over yesterday who came along and helped us at destiny church) so had some time with her. Didnt want to put the update on too late as some people may miss it, so here it is :) It was nice to be back at destiny church last night, after having to miss it last week. It was a relatively calm night and everything ran quite smoothly. Most of the people who out their orders in last week returned for them this week, so we managed to help around 40 people, with new clothes, shoes, coats, bedding, toiletries, a whole variety of items were handed out. As usual, at the end of the night, any bags that havent been collected are opened and the contents split. Each week we have someone ask for something that we dont have with us, and we always say to wait until the end of the night, then we can have a look through the other bags and see if what they want is there and it always amazes me that when we open the bags, we always find what we are looking for. Its almost as if its meant to be and that items was put in the bag just for them. This week a young lad who I chat with every week when I see him in town on my way back from destiny church, was asking us for some new shoes and some other bits and pieces. He was telling us he had found a place to stay, but that there was no heating or electricity and he had no blankets or pillows and was having to sleep on the floor. My face must have spoke my feelings when he told me this, because he looked at me, beamed and said its got a roof though! To him this was a huge step, it may just be a floor in an abandoned building or an empty house, but to him its a huge step up from where he was sleeping last week. The shoes he had on were soaking, dirty and had holes all over them. We hadnt taken any extra shoes, but I told him to wait and we would see what was in the bag. I asked his size and he told me 7 or 8. When all of the orders had been collected and it was clear that nobody was coming back for the ones we had left, we opened them up and in the first bag I looked in was a brand new pair of trainers, size 6.5 and a pair of boots, size 8. He was so happy that not only could he get some new shoes, he had his pick of the two. He asked to try the trainers on, and when he took his shoes off to do so, I was amazed that the first thing he done was get the clean socks we had just given him, out of his bag and put them on, saying Im just changing my socks before I try them on, just in case they dont fit and you have to give them to someone else it struck me as a really respectful thing to do. He was excited about the prospect of getting new shoes, yet still considerate to others, had they not been the right size, he didnt want to make them dirty before someone else got them. Luckily they fit, and he was really chuffed with them. I popped the boots down and within moments a lady came over and asked what size they were as hers had holes in. They were perfect for her, even the same style as the ones she had on, but fresh and new. Quite often when people ask us for shoes, they are happy to take ones which are too small or too big. This always makes me think a bit. I would never buy shoes that didnt fit me, but if it was a choice of those or walking round all day for days on end with no shoes on, or shoes that made my feet cold and wet, I would probably take shoes that didnt fit too. Shoes are something we are asked for all of the time from our street friends. Treading the streets day and night wears shoes out much quicker than you would expect, so we are always grateful for the ones we get donated. Another lady came over as we were handing out the extra stuff and asked if we had a coat that would fit her. She said she already had one, but was unable to wash it as it was her only one. It just so happened that in my hand, was a coat in her size. She tried it on and it was perfect for her! Success, yet again! When we got to destiny church, we again had a load of lovely food, kindly donated from The Happiest Sandwich Shop in the World and The Bay Food Bank, including a birthday cake. As I carried it in one of the young girls beamed from ear to ear and told me it was her birthday in a couple of days, she was so happy that we had birthday cake, even though it wasnt bought specifically for her. We also gave her and her boyfriend a load of stuff that they had ordered last week. Had I of known it was her birthday, I would have made sure there was something special in the for her, but Ill be sorting a card and gift for her this week now that I know, better late than never!! I was chatting with a couple who we have known for a few months now and they told me they are getting a house next week. She was really happy about this, telling me she just wanted to decorate it all sparkly and pink, to which her boyfriend looked overjoyed. She was saying she cant wait to lie and have a bath in her own house, in a nice relaxing bathroom which she has decorated. I told her we would help her get lots and pans and kitchen utensils and whatever else she needs once they are in and settled and work out what else is needed. They are already being given a few bits from other people so I told her to get back to me with whatever she doesnt already get given and we will try and help her out with it. If anybody has anything that you think she would like for her new house, like pictures, ornaments or anything that is very girly, please could you let us know. She loves colourful and girly things, especially pink and anything sparkly. Ill be letting you all know once she gets back to me about what else she needs, so keep an eye out for that and if you have anything you think she might need, keep it aside for us until Ive got her list. We are planning a Christmas party, alongside the team from destiny church, which will take place on Saturday December 20th, where we will be serving Christmas dinners to around 140 people, as well as giving everyone Christmas presents. In order to be able to do this, we need a few things from our kind group members.... Firstly, we are after Christmas gifts, to be handed out on the night. These can be anything from chocolates, to gift sets, jewellery, anything that you could get for us to give to someone so we can make sure that everyone we meet has a gift this year. Its very likely that these are the only gifts out street friends will get this year, so please, when you are doing your Christmas shopping, stick an extra box of chocolates or an extra hat and scarf set in your basket and pass it on to us, it doesnt have to be anything expensive, just something to show you care. We have plenty of Christmas cards over from last year, but could also do with some wrapping paper for the gifts. To make our Christmas dinner and party a special one, which our street friends remember for a long time, we are looking for some other bits and pieces, to decorate the room and also to make sure we have a good night. If anyone has any of the following, please can you let us know and get them to us. We are looking for: Christmas decorations A Karaoke machine Crackers Selection boxes Disposable plates Red or green Napkins A Christmas music CD Big food bags We will also be needing people to volunteer on that day, from 4:30 to 9:30 to help run the night and prepare and serve food. If you would like to give a little something back this Christmas and think you would be suitable to come along and spend the night partying with our street friends, then please contact myself or Joanne Foden who will give you all the details. Lastly, we have had another #teamMWW success story this week. A few months ago we met two young lads who were cousins, you may remember us mentioning them, one of them was the one who liked skulls and we managed to get him some skull material, which was posted from the other end if the country, just for him, so he could decorate his side of their tent. One of our team members has spent a lot of time helping these lads, but not only that, she has spent a lot of time gaining their trust, which isnt always easy with our street friends, for very good reason. Their lives very often havent been ones where people have respected having their trust. Our team member has met these lads in her own time and ensure that they have everything the need to keep them going, but not only that, she has made sure to ask them what they like, even going as far as getting them Chinese food, as it was their favourite. Having spent some time getting to know them and gaining their trust and doing everything she could to help them get by, she spoke with somebody a couple of weeks ago and put the wheels into motion to get then into a flat. Last week, thanks to the kindness of our team and some other people who have helped get these lads sorted, they moved into their very own place. We have managed to get them bits and pieces for their flat, but they still need a few other bits, at the moment they have next to nothing. If anyone has any gothy kind of ornaments or anything like that which you no longer need, please could you donate it to us so we can give it to then for their new home? We would also like some bean bags and things like that, for their chill out room, so anything you have which you think is suitable would be most appreciated. They have also expressed their interest in photography and have been spending time with the other lad we know who is a keen photographer. The lovely Sally Harris donated a camera to us a couple of weeks ago, and I am getting a new one this week, so both the cousins and our other friend will be getting new cameras this week too. They have an amazing view from their flat and had spoken about how nice it would be to take photographs of it, so with Sallys camera, they can do just that. They spoke with our team member on the night they moved into their flat and told her that just before they met us, they found god, and he told them their luck would change and it would come in threes. They said meeting #teamMWW was the first stage of their luck changing, moving into their new home was the second and they are now waiting for the third. I hope we are by their side for the third, as we have been for the first two. I dont believe in a god myself, but I do believe in fate and I do believe that everything happens for a reason, meeting us was their fate and saving them was our reason. Well done team, donators, food makers, clothes sorters and everyone else involved, we are doing a wonderful job. One love
Posted on: Sun, 09 Nov 2014 21:31:23 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015