Generous readers help Shuttle Run homeless appeal reach £5k

Thanks to generous donations from Shuttle readers, our campaign has now raised £5,588 towards a new van to allow HELP volunteers to collect and deliver more donations for some of the most vulnerable people in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley.

HELP founder Dave Griffin said: "The support has been overwhelming. From the start of Covid, myself and the HELP team have worked so hard in difficult and demanding circumstances.

The Shuttle Run Appeal was launched earlier this year to celebrate the paper's 150th anniversary

"The team have worked sometimes 12-hour days, seven days a week to make sure those self-isolating and those who had no where to live were housed in temporary accommodation and supported.

"The public have shown great support to HELP with donations that we have been able to pass on to those that we support.

"I want to say a big heartfelt thank you from myself to all that have donated and supported HELP and the Shuttle Run Appeal during this pandemic. Even though some of you have struggled yourselves, you have still given to those less fortunate."

Since the coronavirus lockdown, HELP has been supporting more people in need than ever before, and is still in desperate need of its own vehicle to collect more food donations, as well as larger donations such as furniture and household appliances for the people it helps off the streets.

HELP treasurer Fran Oborski said: "What the Shuttle Run Appeal is doing is just wonderful and we are incredibly grateful to all the Shuttle readers that have donated so far.

Read more:

• 'I'd be dead without them' - charity a lifeline for Wyre Forest homeless

"Since lockdown, the demand on our services has really increased and, quite often, we are able to get people who have been homeless into accommodation but we aren't able to collect larger donations of furniture because we have no way to collect it.

"It's frightening in this area how many people are in desperate need of our help, so this van will be a godsend.

"The fact that we are now more than halfway to the £10,000 target is just stunning - I am so proud of the people of Wyre Forest."

Shuttle editor Stephanie Preece added: "It's such a huge achievement to reach the halfway point in our appeal. We have been blown away by the response so far. Please do keep donating if you can!"

To donate towards the Shuttle Run Appeal, go to justgiving.com/crowdfunding/the-shuttle-run-homeless-van-appeal.

Cheques can be sent to Kidderminster Shuttle, Second Floor, Copthall House, 1 New Road, Stourbridge DY8 1PH. Make them payable to HELP and write SHUTTLE RUN on the back.

Bank transfers should go to HELP, Lloyds Bank, account number 38430260, sort code 30-91-91.