As you can imagine, no two days are the same for us at Eden Gate. Typically we start the day with a long list of things that need doing however God often has other plans for us!
Today is nothing out of the ordinary, just a typical Tuesday at Eden Gate so we thought we would share with you some of the ways we get to help some of Newport’s rough sleepers and those accessing supported housing. So here goes, here are 10 thing’s we’ve done today so far:
1. The day started with a wake up call for one of our guests who is currently sleeping rough and a gentle reminder to him of some of his meetings he has to attend
2. This was followed by numerous cups of coffee whilst working through a pile of admin work. We like to get this done early before the door starts knocking
3. The first knock was by two of our guests who wanted to use our showers. It’s not the nicest of showers but it offers those sleeping rough an opportunity to feel ‘a little more human’ for a while as described by one of our guests this morning. We had in total 4 knocks on the door for showers and numerous cups of tea and coffee!
4. After our guests have showered we often have a brief window of opportunity to make them tea or coffee and chat with them about their current situation. This is always a great opportunity to try to establish any way we are able to support them directly at Eden Gate or whether we are able to signpost them for additional support elsewhere. Today was one of those days! In fact, I was able to share my testimony and how my life has been changed through faith!
5. I was given the challenge of designing new posters
6. The boss popped out to buy us chocolate for lunch … mmm mmmm!
7. Due to our close working relationship with the Salvation Army we were able to provide 3 guests sleeping rough with referral forms for a change of clothes and a hot drink & toastie … free of charge!
8. This afternoon involved numerous phone calls to various other charities we work closely with, checking up on rehab applications and other bits and bobs that need chasing up
9. One guest required a food parcel so we were able to complete a referral for them
10. Socks and boxers … our most commonly requested items. Thankfully we are able to provide our guests with these when we have donations … nobody likes smelly socks!
We could bore you with a whole list of more things we’ve done today …
finalising Street contact details, buying fire safety equipment, eating gone-off sandwiches, signing off our grant to nationwide, writing this blog, organising a trip to measure up some new donated lockers ready for Nightshelter Plus and whole load of other stuff and it’s not even 3pm
but ultimately we couldn’t do any of this without the support of the people of Newport. We are here with an open door policy to those on the streets of Newport, marginalised and vulnerable in our community and without your generous donations we wouldn’t be able to do any of this.
Thank you Newport!
