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Coronation Street star: Please help save Accrington homeless shelter
7:20pm Thursday 29th July 2010
More stories about: Maundy Grange
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- By Emma Cruces » Reporter
A CORONATION Street star has urged people to help avert a crisis at a homeless shelter close to her heart.
Maundy Grange, Abbey Street, Accrington, has just one week's worth of food left.
Before the recession, the shelter regularly received half a tonne of donated food a week.
This was used to provide 60 meals a day at their base and 15 daily food parcels for disadvantaged families.
But bosses said they were now in a ‘desperate’ situation because donations have fallen at a time when the demand for services has increased.
Coronation Street star Julie Hesmondhalgh, who is a patron of the charity, has urged people to donate urgently.
The actress, who plays Hayley Cropper, is organising a fundraising evening in September.
She has appealed for the public to help keep the shelter going until then.
Julie said: “The work they do is amazing. It is the only place for some people to go for comfort, help and a cup of tea.
“We really need to help them carry on doing that and time is against them right now.
"I would just say to everyone, please, please help by buying a few extra tins in the supermarket.”
Maundy Grange founder Dorothy McGregor said the charity was expecting a windfall come harvest festival, but feared they would not last until then.
She said: “We are nearly completely out of food.
“We are not asking for anything fancy just basic items like tea, coffee, jam, tinned food.
"We are very grateful for anything we receive.”
Donations of funds, pans and food items can be handed in at the shelter at 29-31 Abbey Street; the Maundy Grange charity shop on Abbey Street; or at J&C McCormack Ltd, Warner Street.
For more information on how to help, contact Maundy Relief on 01254 232 328.
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Your Say YourLancashire
thegobster, Accrington says...
3:14pm Sat 31 Jul 10
Gaius Grossus wrote:Not everyone will sell or dump the food as some of them are genuinely in need. So why should a majority be punished for what a minoroty are doing. I often see people outside Maundy eating and drinking food and beverage supplied by Maundy...I for one will be buying a few tins extra and dropping them off to Dorothy........And thank my lucky stars I am not in grip of any addiction or living in dire poverty like those less fortunate than myself..... Gaius while I respect your decision to stop donating I think it is small minded to brand all those who use Maundy with the same brush as there really those in genuine need.
The problem is not recession driven but is a reaction to food being dumped or sold on by people who want to feed a drug habit. People do not want to donate on that basis and stop. I did
wens, says...
6:01pm Sat 31 Jul 10
frank, great harwood says...
12:49pm Sun 1 Aug 10
they do a lot of good, so i'll be calling in with some food.
Gaius Grossus, Accrington says...
12:58pm Mon 2 Aug 10
wens wrote:Sorry but it has been seen away from Maunday, to my knowledge in Huncoat, where known Maunday customers have dumped food.
I have worked at Maundy Relief for the past five years and i have rarely seen anybody abuse the kindness that we offer. Only today a man approched me and offered £50.00 to our charity. Its people like this gentleman who enable us to continue to keep our doors open to the less fortunate. I feel very sad when I hear someone in our community has lost faith in the wonderful support Maundy Relief strives to offer.
SUPPLIES RUNNING LOW: Shelves are getting bare at Dorothy McGregor’s Maundy Grange homeless shelter
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Gaius Grossus, Accrington says...
12:53pm Fri 30 Jul 10