The ‘Rucksack Stomp’ is the name given to a group of companions from Emmaus Village Carlton volunteering in Bedford, Northampton and Wellingborough town centres every week, offering a lifeline to people sleeping on the streets.
The Sock Shop kindly donated socks, underwear and thermal underclothes, while glove wholesalers, Just 1 Source & Supply in York and Troy (Exeter), donated 30 pairs of thermal and waterproof gloves to the team of volunteers supporting homeless people this winter.
Global business Unilever kindly donated a palette of over 500 Fusions Thai Green Curry Pot Noodles which will help the team keep vulnerable people warm and energised during the cold weather.
Companion Christian Coley, who started the Rucksack Stomp in 2017, said: “We are hugely grateful to the Sock Shop, Just 1 Source and Supply and Troy (Exeter) and Unilever for their very generous and much-needed donations which will really help keep vulnerable people warm on the streets during this cold weather.
“We’ve been handing out these items, as well as offering hot drinks and food and other essentials such as sleeping bags, tents and warm clothing.
“We’ve also received great support through our Amazon Wish List, with generous people donating wet wipes, sleeping bags and socks. Thank you so much to everyone who is supporting our work by donating – we’re so grateful for your help.”
The kind donations followed Christian’s recent appeals on social media for donations of warm items such as socks, gloves and underwear. As well as setting up the Amazon Wish List for people to easily donate key items, Christian highlighted Emmaus’s vital outreach work on both Heart Four Counties and Smooth Radio East Midlands last month.
The dedicated volunteer has now clocked up around 1,700 hours helping homeless people in Bedford, Northampton and Wellingborough through the stomps.
If you would like to contribute sleeping bags, socks or wet wipes to the Rucksack Stomp, please visit Emmaus Village Carlton’s dedicated Amazon Wishlist here: https://amzn.to/3lmw6JQ
You can also drop off sleeping bags and warm clothing such as hats and gloves from Wednesday – Saturday, 10am – 4.30pm and Sunday 10am – 4pm at the Emmaus Village Carlton reception in the Dom Gregory building, School Lane, Carlton MK43 7LQ. Ring 01234 720826 for more details.
Anyone wishing to support the work of the Emmaus Village Carlton Rucksack Stomp can donate to our Appeal online: https://emmaus.org.uk/village-carlton/help-homeless-appeal/