THE MAN behind a charity drive to collect coats and other clothing items to keep the homeless warm this winter said he was ‘completely overwhelmed’ by people’s kindness and generosity after more than 600 were donated in just a week.
Inspired by a Twitter post from the Big Issue, Alan Gormley put an appeal on social media and it was featured in last week’s paper.
The community champion runs the town’s Walking Sports Hub and said it was a ‘natural planned evolution of the way it could provide wider help to local communities’.
“I’m absolutely gobsmacked – I never for one moment thought it would take off like it has.
“Day by day we are getting more coming in and we are getting them out to larger distribution centres in Redditch and Worcester and smaller ones in Bromsgrove where there are less people on the streets.
“The coats have been coming in from everywhere – Bromsgrove, Droitwich and Redditch – but also from afar afield as Wednesbury.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone, the local Facebook groups for sharing the appeal and the police who have been great – offering us a van and help with distribution.”
Donations will primarily go to charities which deal with the homeless and any left over will go to other local charities with a need.
People can drop donations in Alan’s porch, 32 Stourbridge Road, Fairfield, email him at alan@sport- edge.co.uk or call him on 07731 369942.
