Group Help the Homeless in Dorchester collecting shoe boxes

Helping the Homeless and Vulnerable Adults in Dorchester is a group set up around four years ago by Luke Bird.

The group was founded after the Hub, a homeless refuge centre in Dorchester of which Mr Bird had been a volunteer at for eight years, was closed due to a lack of funding.

Hosted by the United Church in Dorchester for the past four years, the group will hand out the shoe boxes at a Christmas meal event for those in need.

The shoe boxes can be filled with anything from toiletries, make up, thermal clothing, gloves to food, sweets, tobacco, and mini games.

People are asked to label the boxes for male, female or neutral but organisers have made a note that they are currently helping more men than women. No alcohol or sharp objects are permitted.

Shoe boxes can be dropped off at 35 Mellstock Avenue in Dorchester before the Christmas meal at United Church in South Street on Monday, December 18.

The meal and gift giving will start at 10am, and finish around 3pm. 

Mr Bird said: “For our Christmas meal, we are asking the public for goodies to give to the homeless. It’s incredibly important as some people don’t have Christmas, so to bring it to them is a great thing."

Mr Bird, 44, said that he has seen a number of different items in the box over the years and said that last year someone put scratch cards in the boxes.  

At the meal, Santa Claus will make an appearance to hand out the gifts before the group shares a Christmas dinner.

This year, the group is inviting the public in to see the work they do, with hot drinks and cakes provided.

Mr Bird said the campaign draws a lot of support and last year he had around 50 boxes, filling up his living room.

Mr Bird is the founder and manager of Helping the Homeless and Vulnerable Adults in Dorchester and has been helping homeless and vulnerable people in the area for the last 17 years.

“I have got a passion to do this,” he said. “I am dyslexic, so finding a job was hard for me - but my mum said to try out volunteering and so I helped out down the Hub.

“When the Hub ran out of funding I was upset as there was nothing to support the homeless in Dorchester, so I started cycling around the town on my bike- giving out coffee, sandwiches and blankets."

READ MORE: Cyclist's generous act to help homeless in Dorchester

It wasn’t long before Mr Bird decided that he needed help, which is why he set up a Facebook support group.

Along with his partner, Rebecca Hobby, Mr Bird has handed out shoe boxes for the last four years.

“I had 30 people in at one point, and when things were getting big- United Church offered their kitchen to get the people out of the rain,” he said.

United Church has hosted the group’s lunch club for the last three years. They meet every Monday between 10am and 2pm, allowing them shelter from the weather and use of the sports hall, coffee room and kitchen.

Mr Bird said: “Anyone is welcome, and it is open to the public too - we have a chap who comes down sometimes from Swanage just to have a cup of tea and a chat.

“I want to say thank you to the town for support, but also the United Church, town council, as well as Alistair Chisholm and Janet Hewitt."

To find out more about the work the group does, what can be included in the boxes and how you can get involved, contact Helping the Homeless in Dorchester on Facebook.