A kind-hearted supermarket worker has been going the extra mile to help provide food and supplies for homeless people in Allerdale.
Kevin Hunt, Asda’s Workington community champion, has been supporting Allerdale Borough Council’s homeless prevention team by arranging trolley-loads of vital donations to be handed over the authority to help the people it works with.
Kevin’s role as community champion has a monthly budget which is used to provide much-needed items to good causes in the area and he has used some of that cash to donate items to the homeless.
The council contacted Kevin earlier this year and he was more than happy to offer his help to the service. Across two donations this year, the council has received more than 100 items from Asda thanks to Kevin’s work.
It was highlighted that some of the items most needed by the service, which helps prevents homelessness and supports anyone fleeing from domestic violence, were baby items, underwear and toiletries. Among the haul of items donated by Asda include underwear, socks, clothing, toiletries, pillows, bedding and cooking equipment.
Kevin said: “It is all about the needs of the group. I only get so much per month to donate but I try to give something to as many people as I can.”
Through the community champion scheme at the store regular donations are also made to a doctors’ surgery in Maryport to provide sanitary products as well as other local charities.
Barry Chambers, the council’s resilience and safety manager, said: “We can’t thank Kevin enough for arranging these items to be donated to our homeless prevention service, they will be well-used and make a big difference.
“Supporting people who find themselves homeless is an important responsibility of the council but we often struggle to provide clean underwear, clothes, and toiletries. These things are vital for a person to feel dignified again to assist and go a long way to helping provide some stability in their life.”
Stephen Stoddart, executive member for housing, health and wellbeing, said: “It is amazing to have such dedicated people working within the council and across our communities to support people who find themselves homeless. The donated items will really help residents in their time of need and we must thank Kevin at Asda for arranging this.”
If you are homeless now, or in danger of losing your accommodation, contact Allerdale’s housing options team on 01900 702660 or email homelessness@allerdale.gov.uk. To contact the council out of office hours call 0303 123 1702.
