The Wednesday before
Christmas saw Bill Rammell MP opening this year’s Haven Night
Shelter at the Play Barn on Abercrombie Way, a shelter which
provides a home for the homeless over the Christmas
period.
Bill Rammell congratulated
staff and volunteers as the Haven shelter celebrated its
14th successful Christmas of
operation.
Also attending the opening
was local and national companies in Harlow who have donated food to
the night shelter.
Bill Rammell said: “It is
at times like this that we need to care for those without a home or
a family as much as we can. At Christmas it always strikes me how
many excellent voluntary organisations we have in Harlow with so
many dedicated volunteers giving up their time to help others. This
really is a tribute to those people. As the local Member of
Parliament, I am always pleased to do all I can to
help.”
Mick Granger, Chairman of
the Chocolate Run Haven charity which runs the shelter, said: “I am
really thankful to Bill Rammell for the interest he shows as patron
of our charity. Christmas is the worst time of year for the
homeless, especially with the weather as cold as it has been this
year. Haven is proud of its reputation as a place which not only
provides shelter for people over the Christmas period, but is a
place where people can come and go as they please and get involved
in fun activities like table tennis. The aim is to make people feel
as much at home as possible and I am proud to celebrate the
shelter’s 14th successful year.”
This year Haven have reported over 70 people coming
forward to volunteer at the shelter, the largest number of
volunteers ever recorded
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