Sally Leigh and Paul Sorenson visited Leicester 15 October 2010 re setting up a winter shelter and received this feedback in February 2011:
"A note to thank you for enabling us to get The Shelter off the ground. We used the 7 church model and ran for 5 weeks. We felt it right to limit ourselves to 8 residents per night and were full most nights. Our volunteeers were superb and were really blessed by the work. The money rolled in so we covered the cost (including a paid project leader and night worker) from the giving.
Sally,we kept with the initial churches who seemed so reluctant. The most reluctant church,who you really challenged at our meeting telling them that to serve was a gift from God, wanted us to carry on longer and also to have emergency provision all winter!
We worked closely with our councils Outreach Team and HOC. The Bridge has been asked by Leicester City Council Housing Dept to lead faith groups to provide Emergency Winter Shelter provision. A huge challenge as we've asked a lot from our volunteers but no doubt God will use someone to show us the way forward.... the sooner the better as it's some responsibility!
As you will gather we'll definitely run next year. Thanks for your support, you've given new inspiration to the 7 churches, inspired the volunteers and helped our 28 guests get off the streets and, in some cases, find hostel accomadation.
Please keep us informed of developments."
One of the guests wrote this to say ‘thank you’ to the shelter at Barnet. He has now moved into accommodation.
The Night Winter Shelter
They walk along the lonely street
Every now and then stop to rest their feet
Hair all matted and fingernails black
And carrying their life upon their back
That shop doorway looks good or that sheltered bench
To get out of the rain before they get drenched
God love them, these people have nowhere to go
Hoping for help but no-one wants to know
Poor rejects of life’s rich tapestry
Walk through life without hope, wearily
What is the purpose, where will it end
No home, no job, no family or friend
Some of them beg for hot food and tea
Others will beg for beer or whiskey
A few of them won’t ‘cos they have too much pride
And suffer in silence by the roadside
They were in a dark tunnel, at the end was a light
It wasn’t easy to see ‘cos it wasn’t that bright
But as they drew nearer the light became clearer
The illumination was a place to stay for the night
Greeted with a smile and a hot cup of tea
Friendly people said, “Come with me”
And led them to a place that they could rest
Just like a bird keeping young warm in a nest
Even though it seemed strange it was plain to see
This was a place filled with harmony
Generous, caring, considerate and kind
A place they could leave their horrid day behind
And when they finally rest their head
A chance of comfort on an unconcrete bed
Given time to reflect on the next coming day
Secure in the knowledge they’ll have somewhere to stay
So thank you, Night Shelter, for the service you run
Helping the homeless, all the good you have done
Your pure human kindness is a joy to behold
For taking less fortunates in from the cold
Written by James Lamb, 11.02.2011
