The Mayor of Preston, Cllr David Borrow, has visited Emmaus Preston to meet with formerly homeless people supported by the charity.
On Wednesday 8 January, the Mayor met with Emmaus Preston beneficiaries (known as companions), volunteers and staff at the charity to learn more about their work. Emmaus Preston supports formerly homeless people by providing them with a home and meaningful work in a community setting.
Mayor of Preston, Councillor David Borrow, said: “I first visited Emmaus a couple of years ago and was so impressed I wanted to make them one of my Mayoral charities. It was great to visit again – this time as Mayor. They do a really good job working with people who find themselves without a home.”
The Mayor has selected Emmaus Preston as one of his four nominated charities along with cancer charity Rosemere, veterans charity Dig in and a charity in Malawi which supports orphans, Friends of Mulange Orphans.
Jason, one of the companions at Emmaus Preston who met the Mayor said: “It was an honour to meet the Mayor of Preston and it inspired me on my journey with Emmaus. I would like to thank him for choosing Emmaus as one of his chosen charities.”
Emmaus Preston operates three large social enterprises in the city offering a wide range of furniture, domestic appliances, clothes, bric-a-brac and vintage goods. Companions of Emmaus work alongside local volunteers to run the social enterprises, providing valuable work opportunities whilst generating an income to help sustain the support offered by the charity.
Karen Wallis, Deputy Support Worker at Emmaus Preston, said: “It was a real pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Preston to our community so he could meet our companions and hear about their personal experience. We’re really grateful for him sparing us some time within his busy schedule to visit Emmaus Preston and for his ongoing support of our charity.”
To find out more and support Emmaus Preston head to www.emmaus.org.uk/preston. If you would like to get involved or donate an item, please call 01772 796622 or visit the Emmaus Preston Megastore on Brookfield Street or stores at Fishergate and Deepdale Mill Street.