The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us.
As individuals, we are all concerned about our health and that of our family and friends, maybe too the financial situation and impact on our mental health.
As a charity, we are worried about the impact the virus will have on those who are among the most vulnerable in our community, the homeless and marginalised who are trying their very best – with our support – to get back on their feet and make a positive contribution to society.
At the Good Shepherd, we are working alongside the guidelines from Public Health, which are changing regularly, to continue to ensure we can continue to look after our clients in a safe and healthy environment.
We are still providing a food service every day which comprises either a hot meal or a packed lunch, and are keeping in touch with our clients to offer them the support that they need.
Sadly a number of our volunteers are unable to help us at the moment, and we are looking forward to having them back with us when the current crisis is over.
In the meantime our small and dedicated team are continuing are doing everything that they can to look after those people who need our support more than ever.
One area where we are going to find challenging is the loss of income from fundraising events over the coming months.
We rely strongly on the incredible generosity of individuals, businesses and faith groups from around Wolverhampton to help us deliver our food service and other activities to help the people we support get themselves back on their feet and feeling worth their place in society.
Can you help us at this most challenging of times, and play a part in providing care and assistance to the disadvantaged within our community? Most of us have support networks and family that support us, but our service users have to rely on the Good Shepherd and local services during the crisis.
WAYS YOU CAN HELP
A ONE-OFF DONATION
We can now take donations via text message thanks to Donr – a provider of digital fundraising solutions to the charity sector.
Text GSM 1 to 70085 to donate £1.
Text GSM 2 to 70085 to donate £2.
Text GSM 6 to 70085 to donate £6. (This costs £6 plus the rate of a standard message)
You can also donate via our Big Give Platform – Click here to visit the donations page.
SET UP A REGULAR DONATION
Setting up a regular donation now would be incredibly important for the Good Shepherd to know that we have that support and can plan for the future. A donation of £5 a month would play a massive part in helping the lives of those who visit the Good Shepherd to get their life back on track when they have nowhere else to go. If this is something you are able to consider, please call Helen Holloway on (01902) 399955 or email [email protected]
DONATE FOOD/ESSENTIALS
Thanks to our friends at Sainsbury’s, we have a food collection box by the tills in their store at Chapel Ash. If you are shopping and feel able to donate an item or two, please consider any non-perishable items such as cereals, biscuits, pasta sauces, curry sauces, fruit juices, crisps, pot noodles, tinned fruit, rice pudding, long life milk, jam, chocolate, tinned meat, coffee and sugar. We are also always in need of toiletries – soap and deodorants – and, at the present time, anti-bacterial spray.
If you are in a position where you have a large number of items to donate, please call us on (01902) 399955 so we can arrange delivery or collection and ensure we adhere to the current social distancing rules.
VOLUNTEER
Although many of our volunteers are unable to support us at the moment, we are currently in a good position due to a change in how we are providing our services during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, if circumstances change we may still require more volunteers. Click here to access and download our Volunteer request form if you would like to leave your details.
At present, Enterprise Homes, who run the Night Shelter on our premises, are seeking volunteers who may be able to help out overnight during the coming weeks. Email [email protected] for more details. The Well charity, which provides food parcels and essentials for people in need, is also looking for volunteers. Email [email protected] for details.
MANY THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR ONGOING SUPPORT. PLEASE STAY SAFE.