Homelessness – a life-saving project.
“THIS RUCKSACK PROBABLY SAVED MY LIFE”. This was message I received from a homeless person – a photograph shows him hugging a rucksack to his chest with the Rotary logo clearly visible – says Hazel Brindle of the Rotary Club of Sowerby Bridge.
For me, that was a very poignant moment it made me realise how much these rucksacks mean to the homeless and rough sleepers. It’s not just the added comfort and warmth on the cold winter nights but its knowing that someone somewhere cares about them; they have a personal possession.”
Sowerby Bridge is into its third year of Rucksacks4Homeless; to date they have distributed 235 rucksacks to the homeless in the Calderdale area. The rucksacks have been distributed to various homeless support organisations.
The rucksacks bearing the Rotary logo and Rucksacks4Homeless logo contain, a 4season mummy style sleeping bag, bivvy bag, foil backed sleeping mat, lined beenie hat, scarf, think insulated gloves and two pairs of long warm socks. A hygiene clip box containing, face cloth, liquid soap, shampoo, hand sanitiser, comb, deodorant, lip salve, toothbrush and tooth paste. Rotary also provides a labelled flask – which they can take to any retail outlet showing the same logo, for a refill of a hot or cold drink.
Hazel continues: “One member of our team is an ex army man who became homeless through a series of problems which spiralled out of control. Col joined the team in the early stages, advising us on the essential survival items a rucksack should contain. Since joining the team he has grown in self-confidence and can share his homeless experience . He went into supported accommodation and is now living independently managing his life and working with us on this project. He says we are his inspiration. When he is down he thinks of Rotary, which gives him a boost. He is a tremendous ambassador for the project. Col says: “When people say they are at rock bottom, they are not. It is only when you turn the stone over, then you are at rock bottom.”
“Each rucksack currently costs £75. We have approximately 56 more rucksacks to distribute – local estimates say homelessness will be on the increase again this Winter.”
In addition to the rucksacks, Rotarians visit the local Food Bank armed with bars of chocolate and bags of sweets. Hazel picks up the story: “One year we gave an elderly gent some Quality Street. About 20 mins later he called me back he was rooting in his food bag for the sweets I had given him – he wanted to swop them for chocolate drops which he had seen me give out. He then told me he was seeing his 3 year old grandchild and wanted to give her the chocolate drops. We gave him the chocolate drops and told him to keep the Quality Street. His eyes filled with tears he was so grateful. At this event we normally hand out around 120 bars of chocolate. We are collecting bars again now.
“Being a Rotarian is very humbling when you see these homeless and needy families. I was told last Christmas when we took childrens selection boxes in that some of these needy children did not know what a birthday party was.”
Hazel has ambitions for the club to go further in the future: “We would like to diversify as we realise rucksacks are a sticking plaster in respect of homeless. A number of these homeless people do get housed and I wonder if we can take a 50/50 approach with rucksacks and providing a home starter kit such as kettle, toaster, microwave, cutlery and so on.”
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October 2020 News
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