Social Bite has launched its Festival of Kindness in the West End.
The homelessness charity wants to provide 300,000 gifts, meals, and essential items to people experiencing homelessness this Christmas.
Christmas trees with donation points have been installed in five cities: London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Dundee, to emphasise that ‘in a world where you can be anything, be kind.’
Glasgow Warriors managing director Al Kellock joined Social Bite co-founder Josh Littlejohn for the launch in Vinicombe Street, off Byres Road.
Wishlist
The charity has created a wishlist of the items and gifts that homeless and vulnerable people need the most especially at this time of year.
It includes a warm pair of gloves, a hot water bottle and a torch, and good quality socks and toys for children living in temporary accommodation to open on Christmas morning.
Josh Littlejohn MBE, said: “Your kindness is needed now more than ever.
“The economic challenges and inflation facing the country this year means that homeless people face a very bleak winter.
“Millions of people will be forced to choose between heating and eating and this Christmas, and tens of thousands of people all over the UK will spend the festive period on the streets – cold, hungry and lonely, without a family to go to.
“Tens of thousands of children will also find themselves in temporary emergency accommodation or without food on the table over the festive period.
Millions of people will be forced to choose between heating and eating and this Christmas, and tens of thousands of people all over the UK will spend the festive period on the streets – cold, hungry and lonely, without a family to go to.
Josh Littlejohn
“That’s why we are asking people living all across the UK to support our Festival of Kindness campaign by inviting them to be kind and buy or donate a little extra to help those who need it most – even the smallest of gifts will make a huge difference.”
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, Social Bite will be opening up its coffee shops in Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen to provide a warm Christmas dinner and some loving company for those who need it, as well as providing meals and gifts through a network of over 170 local charity partners across the UK.
Josh added “Our staff always give up their Christmas day every year to ensure that homeless and vulnerable people have delicious food to eat and some festive company.
“This year we will also be distributing food packs and hot meals to tens of thousands of people in food poverty through our network of charity partners all over the UK.”
All gifts will be distributed by Social Bite’s dedicated team of ‘elves’ to those who need it most, just in time for Christmas.
People who live further away and are unable to visit a Tree of Kindness can also buy a ‘virtual gift’ online via the Social Bite website which will enable the provision of food, gifts, and essential items.
Donations will also help fund emergency accommodation for people who are sleeping rough, as well as energy support during this cost-of-living crisis.
Essential
In 2021, thanks to the generous support of the public, the Festival of Kindness campaign resulted in 276,545 Christmas meals, food packs, gifts, and essential items for people affected by homelessness and food poverty.
All gifts donated at the trees should be new and unwrapped, and there is a helpful ‘how-to’ guide on the charity’s website.
Donated items will be placed in weather-proof perspex boxes and collected each evening for transportation to the local distribution centre nearby.
