I am one of those people who adamantly refuses to give money to the homeless / beggars for fear that it will be used for drink or drugs. However, I will often buy a sweet drink and a pastie for them.
Today I was at the local shopping centre and the community shop has a table outside asking for warm clothes to be given to these people. The clothes are not for sale they will be handed out to rough sleepers by volunteers. In this weather it seems like a good idea, but it is such a shame it didn't start as winter set in.
Frank, I suspect quite a few charities were handing out clothing and blankets earlier in the season, but because of the extra cold snap I think a more concerted effort is being made to reach out to those who usually may not want help?
You are probably right, Ria. The community shop only normally does bric-a-brac as it is more an information unit for things council and NHS. It doesn't even have a till, just a cash box.
The homeless mission here takes in spare outdoor clothing each winter, and hands it out. I gave a load of stuff last year, and two good (too big) coats this year. I think a lot of towns do similar.
You put in what you don't want, the clothes are then sold in markets, red cross or flea markets, etc and the money is then donated to all sorts of charities - as the Portuguese don't do charity as such.
It's for children's homes, the bombeiros, animal shelters-
It's official our not very big m/s store closes on April21 . Gggrrr none of the 45staff are being made redundant as such but being offered jobs in hull 30mile away or Scarborough 22mile away awfull for them and dreadfull for m/s to act like this so apart from some independent butchers and bakers there is only one food shop in the town centre Iceland