Times are hard for many and for those facing homelessness or hardship, Christmas can be among the worst times.

More and more people are turning to charities such as Maidstone Homeless Care for help, the organisation, which runs a day centre, food drive and hostel.

Since last Christmas, the day centre in Knightrider Street, Maidstone, has given out 106 family parcels, which provides food to last a family of between four and six people up to a week. Each is tailored to cater for the family’s specific needs, from nappies and baby food for certain ages, to pet food, if they have a family pet.

Staff and volunteers also provided 231 parcels for single people, which aims to last them a week. The provisions which are included in them are all donated, through the Kent Messenger’s annual You Can Help campaign, which launched on Friday.

One of the trustees, Angela Clay, said: “Christmas to many of us is about planning what to buy for mum or the kids, decorating the tree and looking forward to roast turkey and all the trimmings with our families.

“For those without a roof over their heads, Christmas can be a really hard and lonely time. Because of the kindness of people in our community, all our homeless clients at Maidstone Day Centre and the men, women and children in our town who would otherwise go hungry will enjoy good food and festive fare too.”

Among the generosity already on offer has been 1,000 tins handed in by pupils at St Simon Stock School in Oakwood Park, Maidstone, who arranged them into a star for the handover to trustee Mike FitzGerald.

Also the Hengist restaurant in Aylesford High Street is to provide a slap-up Christmas dinner for some of those who visit the day centre on a regulars basis, just before Christmas Day itself.

The centre has 39 regulars on its books who are able to visit for a shower, a hot meal, for help with bills, benefits and job hunting and to take a packed tea away with them.

Each year the Kent Messenger joins forces with the charity to collect cans which will help go towards providing items to help the homeless and those in need at Christmas and through the coming year.

Last year, it gathered 9,000 cans, and raised more than £2,000.

You can donate non-perishable foods and tins, as well as other items for someone in need.
Collection points across the Maidstone and Malling boroughs are at: All Saints’ Church, Loose; Iceland, Chequers Centre; Maidstone Girls’ Grammar School in Huntsman Lane; Maidstone Grammar School in Barton Road; Morrison’s Sutton Road; Morrison’s, Larkfield; Oakwood Park Grammar School; Outset at Maidstone Studios; St Luke’s Church; St Peter’s Church, Boughton Monchelsea; St Simon Stock School; Tesco Express, Hermitage Lane and Tesco at Tovil.

You can also donate at the Kent Messenger’s office at 6 & 7 Middle Row, Maidstone.
If you want to help, offer a collection point or donate your time, contact the Friends of Maidstone Day Centre by emailing secretary@homelesscare.org.uk, call Angela Clay, trustee, on 01622 844481 or Mike FitzGerald on 01622 743270.