Bright Christmas for resort’s poor

Steph Arnold, 32, was so moved after learning about the plight of the resort’s homeless population she is now fund-raising to buy them all a Christmas present.

The product design graduate and former Baines student, who lives near Stanley Park with her husband and 12-week-old son, has collected almost £550 in donations in just over a week.

She said: “Because I have a little baby I spent a lot of time awake at night. My brain started ticking and everything about the refugee crisis got me thinking about people closer to home as well.

“I knew they need essentials, but I wondered if they get treats and something nice to open on Christmas morning.”

After contacting The Bridge Project at The Salvation Army in Raikes Parade and Street Life in Buchanan Street and Church Street, Steph decided to put together gift packages for people to open on Christmas morning.

She hopes they will contain gift vouchers, chocolate, a personal radio or MP3 player, a notebook and pen, and other stocking fillers.

She plans to hand out around 75 packages in total.

Steph has also appealed for local businesses and supermarkets to help in her drive, and for donations of wrapping paper.

Go online to facebook.com/homelesschristmasgifts to learn more, or gofundme.com/d53zp5dg to donate.

Read about the Bridge Project here:

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