Local woman appeals for help to keep the homeless warm this winter

Help is needed for a project to knit blankets to give to the homeless to help them wrap up warm this winter.

Carol Russell, from Frome said, “As the cold months approach, with rapidly falling temperatures, many of us think nothing about turning on the central heating or lighting a fire to keep our homes warm. But what about those who don’t have that luxury?

“For some people, home is a pavement, a doorway, a car park, a cardboard box, a park bench.  The lucky ones get to spend a place in a night shelter, but they are the lucky ones.

“I was taken ill in 2008 and had to give up work.  But in October 2016 I was well enough to return to work and started to work for Somerset Care, who have helped me a lot with my health issues. I decided I wanted to work with the elderly, and Emma Henly from Somerset Care suggested I contact Emma Sheppard’s dementia activity group.

“We have some wonderful ladies in the group who have been busy knitting blanket squares to sew into blankets for the homeless.  I myself have so far knitted three blankets, and we think it is a good idea to give something back to society, by helping those less fortunate than ourselves. No-one should be living on the streets, especially as winter approaches. We don’t know what has gone on in these people’s lives that they have ended up being homeless, and I just wanted to help in this way, by making blankets to make their lives a little easier.”

Carol is appealing for anyone who would like to knit either blanket squares or a complete blanket to get in touch with her to join forces to help the homeless this winter. “For those who can’t knit at all, but would still like to donate maybe a ball of wool or two to the Emma Sheppard Dementia Activity Group, this would be just as welcome”.

If you would like to help Carol and the Emma Sheppard Dementia Activity Group, she can be contacted on 07834 810168.