Conference delegates left a lasting legacy to local homeless and vulnerably housed people by way of a ‘thank you’.
Conference attenders were asked by Federation President Pat to bring items such as underwear and men’s socks to donate to the Under the Bridge charity, for use in their clothing store. Under the Bridge Charity Limited provides services to over 100 homeless men and women in the North East and provides emergency accommodation for 31 single homeless people in immediate need at Byker Bridge House.
President Pat said: “I wanted this conference to leave a legacy to a local charity and I selected ‘Under the Bridge’ as an organisation we could support very simply by donating items of women’s and men’s clothing to help bolster their clothing store. The charity does a wonderful job of supporting the homeless and vulnerably housed of the city, and so this our way of saying ‘thank you for having us’ in a very tangible form.”
Lynda Smith, Centre Manager of Under the Bridge said: “We are very grateful to the local Soroptimist Club, SI Newcastle, which has always been very generous to us, donating funds as well as items to support our work. We were delighted when Federation President Pat asked Members travelling from all over the world to bring items of clothing with them to Conference and we would like to thank them on behalf of everyone who will feel the warmth and comfort of dry clothes over the coming winter months as a result of their generous gifts.”
Update
On Saturday afternoon, President Pat advised that 1,909 pairs of knickers and 1,437 pairs of socks had been donated by delegates!