The County Town’s only winter shelter for homeless people has been put in jeopardy by a shortage of volunteers.

Running from Saturday, December 23, Maidstone Churches Winter Shelter (MCWS) offers 15 of the most vulnerable rough sleepers in the County Town a safe and warm bed for the night.

Now in its fifth year, the group is struggling to find enough people to man the shelters overnight, raising concerns homeless people could be left out in the cold.

Project manager Andy James, said he believe MCWS has trouble attracting people from the secular community, given the scheme’s origins in local churches.

He said: “The local churches of Maidstone have been great in encouraging volunteers to come forwards but it’s a limited and aging pool to draw upon.

“Hence we are working proactively to get the message out to the majority ‘non-faith’ or ‘non-church going’ community, that we and rough sleepers of the town desperately need people to step forward and volunteer to cover the nights shifts at the Winter Shelter.”

Mr James’ please have not fallen on deaf ears in the business community.

Obart Pumps, based on the 20/20 business park in Allington has been encouraging their employees to take part and eight of them have taken up the offer.

However, the MCWS is still at around half of the of number of overnight volunteers it needs and is asking businesses and locals to help.

Mr James said: “Obart Pumps is a great example of where a commercial company have taken their corporate social responsibility seriously, rolling their sleeves up to assist those in most need this winter.

“The company and their staff’s help and kindness really could be life-saving, if as predicted this is going to be a long, cold winter ahead for Kent”.

Matthew Hill, managing director of Obart Pumps, said: “We have been based in Maidstone for nearly 30 years and are delighted to support our local community in this way.

“Homelessness can happen to anyone and it is important to realise how lucky we are. I feel that it is not just about giving money. We all need to be more active in giving time and effort to support our communities and would challenge other employers to follow our lead.”

Our You Can Help appeal is run with Homeless Care, responsible for the Maidstone Day Centre in Knightrider Street, the Food For Thought project and Goodsell House hostel in Tonbridge Road.

Items particularly needed include tins of non-perishable goods, ready meals, Christmas food and toiletries.

Cheese, bacon, sausages, eggs and butter or spreads are also welcome.
Also needed are practical items like torches, nail clippers, good quality disposable razors, facial wipes, jogging bottoms, waterproofs, T-shirts in medium or large and gloves and woolly hats.

The Day Centre is open between 9am and noon.
Collection points are:

• Morrisons, Sutton Road, Maidstone, ME15 9NN
• Sainsbury’s, Romney Place, Maidstone, ME15 6SF
• Sainsbury’s, 411 Loose Road, Maidstone, ME15 9QB
• The Mall shopping centre, Pad’s Hill, Maidstone, ME15 6AT
• St Simon Stock school, Oakwood Park, Maidstone, ME16 0JP
• Invicta Grammar School, Huntsman Lane, Maidstone, ME14 5DS
• Maplesden Noakes, Buckland Road, Maidstone, ME16 0TJ
• Maidstone Grammar School, Barton Road, Maidstone, ME15 7B
• Maidstone Girls Grammar School, Buckland Road, Maidstone, ME16
• Kingswood Primary School, Cayser Drive, Kingswood, Maidstone, ME17 3QF
• St Luke’s Church, St Lukes Road, Maidstone, ME14 5AW
• Maidstone Community Support Centre, 39-48 Marsham Street, Maidstone, ME14 1HH
• St Peter’s Church, Church Hill, Boughton Monchelsea, ME17 4BU
• Greensand Health Centre, 3 Stockett Lane, Coxheath, ME17 4PS
• Morrisons, New Hythe Lane, Larkfield, ME20 6PW
• Yalding Church of England Primary School Vicarage Road, Yalding, ME18 6DP
• Iceland supermarket, The Mall, Maidstone
• Oakwood Park Grammar School, Maidstone

If you would like to help or offer a collection point or donate time or services, contact the Friends of Maidstone Day Centre by emailing manager@maidstonedaycentre.org.uk or, call Zofia Grzymala on 01622 674064.

If you can support the shelter contact Andy James on 01622 296 450. For more information, visit www.maidstoneshelter.org.uk.