Maidstone community supports Winter Appeal for people experiencing homelessness

People across Maidstone have come together to support the Health Heart Hope Charity Winter Appeal, which helps people experiencing homelessness across Kent and Medway stay warm and safe this winter.

Colleagues of Health Heart Hope Charity, which supports Kent and Medway Mental Health NHS Trust, joined Fremlin Walk Centre Management to collect donations from local businesses and the public. These included warm coats, sleeping bags, scarves, gloves and hot water bottles and money to help build Winter Survival Kits.

Each Winter Survival Kit costs £70 and includes a dry bag, warm clothing, emergency food vouchers and a thermal sleeping bag. The kits are given to people sleeping rough to help protect them during cold and wet weather.

Kirsty McInnes, Charity and Volunteers Manager for Health Heart Hope, said: “This is our first winter appeal and the support we’ve seen today has been amazing. We are so grateful to Fremlin Walk for their support, and to everyone who has donated so far. Every donation helps someone feel safer and cared for. Homelessness is not a choice, and many people sleeping rough are dealing with poor mental health. Our community’s kindness really can change lives.”

Elizabeth Freeman Marketing Co-ordinator at Fremlin Walk, said: “We are proud to support the Winter Appeal and help people in our local community. Our businesses and visitors have shown great kindness by donating items and money. It shows what we can do when we come together.”

Many people who sleep rough also live with mental health challenges, which can make everyday life harder. The Winter Appeal aims to provide warmth, show people they are valued, reduce stigma and help them get the support they need to live well.

The charity is still collecting donations to support people experiencing homelessness this winter. You can give online on their JustGiving page.

•    £5 could buy a food voucher
•    £10 could provide a dry bag
•    £20 could help buy a warm sleeping bag

Alternatively, you can choose to buy an item for a Winter Survival Kit from the charity’s Amazon gift list.

Donations of winter coats, sleeping bags, scarves, gloves and new hot water bottles can be dropped off at:

•    Priority House, Hermitage Lane, Maidstone
•    Fremlin Walk Centre Management Suite, Maidstone
•    Britton House, Gillingham

Every donation, large or small, helps someone feel warmer, safer and cared for this winter.

To report someone sleeping rough so they can get help, contact StreetLink at www.streetlink.org.uk or call 0300 500 0914.