As we see a change in the weather, darker evenings now the clocks have changed most people are looking toward Christmas. Spending time with friends and family, Christmas present and food shopping and spoiling the ones we love.
Sitting quietly in a doorway, a solitary homeless person gazes into a cup of coffee, appearing cold and withdrawn. Many will stop to offer food, money, and gifts in the spirit of the approaching Christmas festivities.
After Christmas, shoppers pass by, carrying their January sale bags, engrossed in phone conversations and their thoughts. Christmas now feels like a distant memory, and the season of goodwill seems to have faded. But should it be this way?
This scene can be observed all over the country, while the food, fuel crisis and the down turn in our economy has brought significant changes to homelessness, it raises the question of whether our support for the homeless and vulnerable has shifted throughout the year. For rough sleepers, their lives haven’t changed in the three weeks of the festive season. They remain cold, still living on the streets, estranged from loved ones, and plagued by loneliness.
Christmas, famously known as “The Season of Goodwill,” inspired by Dickens’ tale of Scrooge, who transforms from selfishness to kindness and a change of heart. However, are most of us guilty of quickly forgetting the festive cheer and kindness toward our fellow humans? Homelessness is not limited to Christmas; it has become intertwined with the holiday season for centuries, ingrained in stories and traditions.
The outpouring of kindness and love from our community toward rough sleepers and the homeless during Christmas and the festive season deeply touches us. The generosity we witness in December is always overwhelming. Our Wishlist receives tremendous support, and all this generosity will be used to assist the homeless, vulnerable and rough sleepers throughout the winter and into 2024.
As a county, country, and world, we are in crisis. It’s tempting for us to adopt a “charity starts at home” mentality, especially as we grapple with the aftermath of the pandemic and the troubling rise in fuel and food prices. The #costoflivingcrisis has affected us all in various ways. Evections are on the rise and mental health issues at an all-time high.
When January arrives the phones become silent, and offers of fundraising, donations, and support dwindle. Does our burst of generosity during Christmas serve as a way to appease our consciences, making us feel we have done something good for the year? Why do most of us stop when Christmas ends?
Regrettably, we have to decline many offers of assistance during Christmas week, and we apologise for that. Our volunteers undergo vetting and training procedures, including DBS checks, and we can’t allow volunteers into the sessions until these processes are complete. While well-intentioned people are wonderful, we must prioritise our clients’ safety.
Why do we focus on one day of the year or the festive season and then forget about it for the other 364 days? Volunteering provides a sense of fulfilment, a desire to “give something back,” so why restrict it to just one day?
Newbury Soup Kitchen volunteers provide food for up to 150 people each week, during all three of our weekly sessions. We also offer outreach and support throughout the week, thanks to our founder and CEO, Meryl, outreach workers Hannah and Kate and operations manager, Lou. Homelessness and vulnerability is an everyday issue, whereas Christmas is not. Our commitment to supporting and assisting rough sleepers, the homeless, and the vulnerable in our community will persist throughout the year, regardless of the season.
We urge the incredible support shown by our compassionate local community to continue all year long. Many charities work tirelessly throughout the year, often struggling for funds, volunteers, and specific donations. We encourage you to reach out to the charity of your choice, have a conversation with them, and see how you can help. Small acts of kindness throughout the year can make a significant difference in helping others.
