Our Night Shelter – Thank You!

St Mary’s has been running our 2023 Night Shelter on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings since the start of November. Our volunteers provided hospitality to up to 16 men and women who are experiencing homelessness. Guests received a warm welcome, a hot evening meal, a safe place to sleep and breakfast. There was space for recreation in the evenings and endless cups of tea and coffee. A BIG thank you to all our volunteers who sacrificed their time and gave so generously, including Akosua Asantewa-Nkansah who managed to persuade some new volunteers to sleep over with the guests at very short notice!

The final session with our guests was on New Year’s Eve. Florence Somers managed to source donations from several local businesses on Ballards Lane, for which we are immensely grateful:

Non-halal meat by Padraig O’Shea from Annie’s Freehouse
Halal meat by Shwan Meats
Cakes by Pelny Brzuch
Vegetables by Mega Food Centre
Free haircuts by Vesta Hair Salon

Alongside these generous donations, Florence’s culinary skills and a delicious vegetarian dish prepared by Latifa Latif, we managed to celebrate the New Year in style with flutes of Nosecco, party poppers and fireworks on TV. If you are interested in helping out at the Night Shelter next year, check the newsletter for a call for volunteers at the start of October 2024.