Christmas collection for homeless had brilliant response

A Heathfield woman says she has been astounded by the support for her campaign to collect for the area’s homeless.

In previous years Sam Keylock has collected items from family and friends but this year she joined forces with her friend Lara Young from Eastbourne. With people offering to help when they saw the appeal, in total seven van loads and 65 pre-packed backpacks were collected.

She explains: “I posted a message on the Heathfield Community Facebook Page and the response was enormous. Farrago, the Butcher’s Hook Cafe and the Hub in Eastbourne offered to be collection points which was brilliant and without their kindness none of this would have been possible. We soon received so many donations we appealed for a sorting space as it had outgrown our homes. Kirsten Fernforth stepped forward offering the old post office in Horam which was ideal.”

Members of the community helped in different ways. One lady knitted hats and scarfs endlessly, a man donated a whole box wet wipes and Magpie’s Dentist in Horam donated four boxes of toothbrushes and toothpaste. Within the appeal items were collected for the homeless companion dogs.

Skippers Hill School in Fives Ashes also responded to Samantha’s appeal. The school, parents and pupils worked together and donated to 32 backpacks each with little notes and cards from the children.

Also vital to the operation were the volunteers who stepped forward helping to sort all the donations including Sheila Gail, Kirsten Fernforth and Sue Tyrrell – all wonderful ladies who gave up their time.

Sam added: “We wanted to make a difference and hate the idea of anyone being without a home and alone. Once we collected the items we had the challenge of distributing them to people in need. We decided to link up with a number of charities including The Big Warm Up, St Matthews 25 Project, Warming Up the Homeless, The Hub in Eastbourne, a community charity offering Christmas meals to the homeless, Sea View and The Saffron support shelter. We still have one more load to donate and are currently looking for a charity to help. We are incredibly humbled by everyone’s kindness and generosity, thank you all so very much.”

Samantha runs memory cafes for charity Know Dementia which supports individuals and their families. Lara is training to be a counsellor.