Emmaus Dover is celebrating after receiving a £20,000 donation from the Morrisons Foundation.
The donation has funded a much-needed new van. This will enable the charity to deliver and collect donated household goods across Dover and East Kent.
The generous furniture donations from the public are integral to the Emmaus model as they provide items to sell in the three Emmaus shops in Ashford, Canterbury and Dover.
Residents of Emmaus are all formerly homeless and learn new skills by working in the charity’s social enterprise. The sense of routine and purpose that the work experience gives the residents helps to restore their confidence and self-esteem that is often lost when someone becomes homeless.
Paul, a resident at Emmaus Dover, said:
“My main role at Emmaus is dealing with the logistics of booking collections and deliveries, which I enjoy doing. I’m so grateful to have a home and meaningful steady work again. I would be dead if it wasn’t for Emmaus – I would just be another statistic. Emmaus has saved my life.”
Debbie Stevenson, Community Manager at Emmaus Dover, said:
“We are so grateful to the Morrisons Foundation for their very generous donation. The funding will mean that we will be able to purchase a brand-new van helping us to deliver and collect more furniture across Dover and East Kent.”
Emmaus Dover supports people who have experienced homelessness by offering a home, meaningful work in its social enterprise, funded training and an opportunity to regain lost self-esteem while they rebuild their lives.
This year Emmaus Dover are celebrating their 25th anniversary. They are looking to raise £25,000 towards their Building a Better Future project which will invest in new facilities and create more opportunities for the men and women they support.
To find out more about Emmaus Dover or to donate to their Building a Better Future Project please visit www.emmaus.org.uk/dover