We are so grateful to have received more than £42,000 from local organisations to help us through the COVID-19 crisis. Our three charity shops generate the funds needed to provide a home, food, work and training for our 27 companions (formerly homeless people now supported by Emmaus Dover). Due to the second national lockdown, our shops have once again been forced to close, resulting in a substantial loss of income for our community.
Donations from Kent Community Foundation, Colyer-Fergusson Charitable Trust, Port of Dover and Dover District Council, amongst others, have given us some much-needed financial relief to cover the cost of food, utilities and individual support for companions while our shops remain closed.
Karen Gambrell, Fundraiser at Emmaus Dover, said: “We are so grateful for the incredible generosity these organisations have shown us this year. Without their kind donations, we wouldn’t be able to provide the support needed to help our companions rebuild their lives through this difficult period.”
Throughout the pandemic, companion Peter Mahoney (pictured above) has been attending counselling sessions with our Community Support Worker, Sharon Schollar (pictured above) – funded by the Port of Dover Community Fund. He adds: “These donations mean that we can get the help we need from people like Sharon. Before I came to Emmaus Dover, I didn’t know who I was, but with Sharon’s guidance I can now see who I am. Every goal is possible from here.”
Kent Community Foundation has been supporting the charity since 2015. Its Chief Executive Josephine McCartney said: “At this challenging time, we are delighted to have been able to help Emmaus Dover with grants from our COVID-19 and KCF Coronavirus Emergency Funds, as well as supporting over 400 other good causes across Kent and Medway.”
We’ve also been very fortunate to receive food donations from local supermarkets, including Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Marks and Spencer, Lidl and Aldi.
If you’d like to support Emmaus Dover through lockdown, please donate to our Covid-19 Emergency Appeal.