[NOTICE] Winter Comfort for the Homeless

I am a member of the University (Gonville and Caius, 1987-1990) and have recently returned to Cambridge from abroad and have become involved in voluntary work in the city. I heard about Winter Comfort for the Homeless and have since enjoyed going in to help in the kitchen and so on.

The people who work there have a very positive attitude and are full of ideas and initiatives. They provide a hot breakfast and other amenities for the homeless and they provide a whole range of other support to help people back onto their feet. For example, someone who is motivated could follow cookery lessons, obtain qualifications and work as an apprentice and then move on to the catering industry in Cambridge.

Their website is: www.wintercomfort.org.uk. I am of course in touch with members of staff who can provide fuller information.

I have been asked to help with fund-raising, which has involved retiring collections in college chapels, placing collection boxes and collections of clothing and food.

It is in connection with the last two activities that I am writing to you. With regard to food, one of the colleges intends to implement the following approach: Before the students go down for Christmas, they are asked (social media has been suggested) to leave in a collection area any odd tins of food, packets of pasta etc. they may have, which can then be collected. With regard to clothing, students can be asked prior to coming up at the end of the holiday to bring any clothing they would like to donate and which can then be collected.

A student representative, or a student or another person with an interest in charity work, might be the best person to approach, hence I am writing to you as a first contact as Senior Tutor. I hope you might be interested in our local charity: winter is obviously the hardest time for the homeless and the precariously housed.

Very many thanks for your time,

Best regards,
Lance Unwin