Donations of rucksacks needed to deliver ‘Bags of Love’

Some of the items that go into Bags of Love

With only weeks to go before the Winter weather arrives, Bags of Love urgently need your help in their search for rucksacks or holdalls to deliver essential items to the homeless.

Helen Bly, who started the Bags of Love project in Rochdale with her 12-year-old daughter Lily, said: “Me and my daughter have been involved in lots of volunteering across Greater Manchester, but we really wanted to do something ourselves that would benefit the Rochdale area.

“In 2017, we started collecting loose change that we found on the floor and we had a total of £15.75. We decided to make a care package for a homeless person and purchased goods with the change.

“After the first care package, we thought that we would try to make as many packages as possible to distribute to the homeless all year round. The idea was greatly received by residents and we had so many donations but unfortunately, everything has come to a standstill as we haven’t had any donations of bags to put the goods into. 

“My house is currently filled with all sorts of non-perishable foods, bottles of water and toiletries that have kindly been donated to us from individuals and companies like Lush. We really want to give these out to people who desperately need them, especially now it’s getting colder, and not let them go to waste, but we just don’t have any bags.” 

Before the project came to a halt, Helen and her daughters Lily 12, and Elinor, 14, regularly gave ‘Bags of Love’ out at Champness Hall soup kitchen on Drake Street, as well as handing them out on the streets to the homeless. 

Helen added: “It is so nice to meet people who are appreciative of what we do for them and seeing the difference just one bag can make. The more bags we can get, the bigger difference we can make and continue to help. 

“Hats, scarves, gloves, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpastes, brushes/combs, warm socks, small snacks or sweets, plasters, blankets. I'm sure there are plenty of unwanted items during Christmas.” 

Donations of rucksacks and holdalls – new or old - or any other item that you think might help the project can be dropped off at Tesco on Silk Street or at Marland Hill Community Primary School. 

Alternatively, you can contact Helen: 

bagsofloveproject@gmail.com

www.facebook.com/bagsofloveprojectuk