Staffordshire University has launched a Christmas campaign to help homeless women in the local area.
Each year, the University Chaplaincy coordinates a winter collection and has previously collected socks, handbags filled with sanitary products and hundreds of coats for homeless people across the region.
This year, the focus is on supporting women in need and they are looking for donations of toiletries, sanitary products and underwear with the campaign 'A Bit of Give and Take'. In return for donating into the 'give' box, you can enjoy a chocolate from 'take' box.
University Chaplain Mick Williams, aka Mick the Vic, explained: “We had the idea of doing a reverse advent calendar. With a normal advent calendar you take a chocolate everyday but we thought as well as receiving something nice, we would give people the opportunity to do something nice.
“We are asking for toiletries, perfume, eyelashes – anything that makes you feel nice and lovely because if you are homeless you still want to feel good. We are also collecting essentials like sanitary products.”
Nia Charlton and Holly Hunt who work with the ResLife team at the University are helping to run the campaign.
Nia said: “I wanted get involved because I think, at especially at Christmas, it's important that we help to prvide homeless people with the things they can't afford to buy themselves.
“As women we know what it would be like if we didn't have access to sanitary products and we wouldn't want anyone to be in that situation.”
There are eight donation boxes at various locations across the Stoke-on-Trent campus and Centres for Excellence in Healthcare Education in Stafford and Shrewsbury. The wider community has also shown support with the Stafford Weight Watchers group hosting a donation box.
All items collected will be distributed to women at various homeless shelters and refuges in region including Brighter Futures, House of Bread and the Macari Centre.
Mick added: “The donations boxes are already filling up and we've had a great response on Facebook and email.
"We always get an immense response across the University because people want to give. Come and drop something in and have a choccy on us!”
Donation items
- Shampoo/ conditioner
- Sanitary products
- Bodywash/ soap
- Flannels
- Underwear
- Facewash
- Deodorant
- Moisturiser
- Toothpaste/ toothbrushes
Box locations
- Stoke-on-Trent campus
- The Student Hub
- Ashley 2
- The Students' Union
- Coalport
- Mellor building
- Trent building
- Stafford - Blackheath Lane
- Shrewsbury
If you have any questions, please contact Mick the Vic by emailing m.williams@staffs.ac.uk