A homeless helper is appealing for donations to go towards repairing a van used to deliver meals and offer showers and haircuts to vulnerable people in central London.
Anthony Burdett has run grassroots project The Big Warm Up out of his home in Hogsmill Way, Ewell for more than two years.
After a chance encounter and conversation with a homeless man in December 2014, Anthony was inspired to do more to help than just share his spare change.
He set up a Facebook page and was inundated with messages from like-minded people wanting to help. The page now has more than 5,000 followers, and is used to co-ordinate deliveries of food, clothes and other necessities to homeless people.
From November 2015: West Ewell homeless helper sets sights on starting nationwide charity
Through crowdfunding Anthony was able to buy a van to allow him to deliver more items in a single trip. It is also fitted with a barber’s chair and a shower to help homeless people maintain cleanliness and dignity.
The van (pictured above) requires a constant funding stream to cover maintenance, MOT, tax and insurance costs, and was taken off the road last week in need of urgent repairs. There is currently £750 in the Big Warm Up account to go towards the maintenance, but Anthony believes an extra £250 is needed.
From February 2016: West Ewell homeless helper crowdfunding for utility van to get project on the road
He is now appealing for donations.
“Unfortunately our much loved van has been taken off the road since last week it's in the garage now but is looking like it's going to cost quite a bit to get right,” he said.
“Any help with donations will always be very much appreciated and will allow us to keep helping those who need it.”
To donate, visit www.gofundme.com/homeless-van-maintenance
For more information, search Facebook for ‘The Big Warm Up Helping the Homeless’
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