Wirral News launches Christmas appeal to help the homeless

Dec 3 2008 by Carrie Catterall, Birkenhead News

ark

DECEMBER can be especially hard for the homeless as the bitter weather sets in and memories of Christmas past are remembered.

To try and add some magic to their lives, the News has joined forces with The Ark project in Birkenhead - and we want readers to help us.

Throughout December we want you to donate tinned food, groceries, toiletries, chocolates and other small gifts which we will gather into a huge Christmas parcel and deliver to the residents at The Ark.

This shelter, which started in 1992, has shown the light to thousands of people who, because of circumstances, found themselves without a home.

But thanks to a 25-bed direct access hostel on Sandford Street and six “move-on” houses, 58% of the previously homeless residents are now back in the mainstream community.

Despite this, however, the project is always bulging at full capacity during the Christmas season.

Ark worker Bob Jarvis, 61, of Heswall, said: “This time of year brings with it a mixture happiness and sadness for the homeless.

“We try to make it as special as we can but, of course, for many people memories of past Christmases spent with family before things went wrong tend to resurface.

“There are often tears, but we try to make it as comfortable as we can.

“Staff and volunteers are cooking a special meal on December 17. We will relax our rules and provide each of our residents with a small shoebox of gifts.

“Anything people can donate could make this time of year more bearable for these vulnerable people.”

Please give generously and drop all your donations off at the Wirral News, Second Floor, 76 Hamilton Street, Birkenhead.

For more information, or if you would like become a volunteer at The Ark, visit www.wirralark.org.uk or call 650 6854.