Last week, we helped a man in his mid 20s who had custody of his 5 year-old daughter and having left a hostel, was living in an unfurnished flat. In organising the property, he’d missed a universal credit appointment and had been sanctioned. He had no money and he and his daughter were sleeping in 2 sleeping bags on a floor with no carpet/rugs. They had a bean-bag in the sitting room and one teddy bear. That was it!
NewStarts were able to gift them: 2 chests of drawers, a 3-seater sofa, a dining table and 3 dining chairs, a kitchen pack (crockery, cutlery, pans), an armchair, a single bed with mattress and all bedding (duvet, pillow, sheets and covers), 2 bags of age appropriate toys/books, a coffee table, a TV unit (in case a TV arrives in future) and an emergency food parcel.
He is now sleeping on the sofa and thanked us for the best night of sleep he’d had in ages and his daughter is now sleeping properly too. She was over the moon with her toys. He said we were a life saver but in reality, we are part of that life saving solution: YOU – each one of our supporters who think of us and kindly donate your quality, unwanted things rather than selling them on Facebook or EBAY … those of you who donate food to our food bank … and those of you who support us with financial donations so we can cover our overheads (including warehouse/shop/4 vans/staff/volunteer costs) … you are all life savers and we salute you!
