Member Article

Otley PR firm partners with homeless charity

Otley communications agency, GLR Public Relations, has created a shoebox appeal in partnership with local charity, St George’s Crypt, to help homeless people in the city this Christmas.

Each year St George’s Crypt helps almost 33,000 homeless people in Leeds by providing more than 40,055 meals, securing 1,795 rehousing placements and putting on art sessions for over 400 of their residents.

Despite this, at Christmas the volunteer dependant organisation’s resources are stretched as more people find themselves spending the festive period on the streets in bone chilling temperatures.

Offering support to the charity and those it helps, GLR Public Relations is donating shoeboxes full of warm clothing such as woolly socks, hats, scarves and gloves, essential toiletries and festive food.

Andrew Omond, project manager at St George’s Crypt says: “Being on the street is challenging at the best of times, but not least in winter when the temperature drops and when most people are spending time with loved ones to celebrate Christmas.

“Sometimes the smallest of things make the most impact on a person’s life and to receive a shoebox full of practical things like warm clothing and little luxuries such as chocolate will mean a great deal to those most in need this year.”

St George’s Crypt, located on Great George Street, is run by a team of 122 volunteers and is open 365 days of the year.

GLR Public Relations, which specialises in the healthcare and financial services sectors, was prompted to support the campaign following its director, Joanne Gill, visiting The Crypt after her seven-year-old daughter questioned why some people don’t have homes and families.

Gill says: “After a shopping trip to Leeds last year my daughter got really upset about the thought that some people don’t have a home or family to care for them. I contacted St George’s Crypt to see if they could arrange a visit for us both – the experience helped her understand that people in Leeds do have somewhere to go where they will be warm and cared for.”

“The launch of our shoebox campaign will offer some additional comfort for the people who use St George’s Crypt.”

For more information visit www.stgeorgescrypt.org.uk

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Niamh Hamill .