Laura Spratt is aiming to help the homeless this Christmas

Laura Spratt

Norden resident Laura Spratt is aiming to help the homeless this Christmas by starting up a local Christmas Hamper Project called Blessed to be a Blessing.

Laura decided to launch the project after thinking about helping people on a local level.

She said: “I had the idea to set up a local project that can help local homeless people and thought about doing something that at a time of year when people are getting nice things, we could help people who are not as fortunate.”

Laura is currently aiming to create 13 hampers for homeless men in the borough, with the hampers being donated to the Sanctuary Trust.

Laura said: “The Sanctuary Trust is a local charity that currently has rooms for 13 homeless men, so our first aim is to do 13 hampers for men and then if we can successfully do that, try and make hampers for a women’s refuge or a mother and baby unit.”

Laura is now asking for the help of the general public to help with the hampers.

“We are currently looking for items to fill the hampers so if anyone could donate anything, then that would be great,” said Laura. “It could be anything from socks or toiletries to a box of chocolates. Things that don’t cost a lot but would mean a lot to someone who doesn’t have those luxuries.”

This is the first project that Laura has set up following an initial idea over the summer.

She added: “I had an idea over the summer and I thought about setting it up and it has gone from there. I have done charity work and volunteering through my local church but this is a completely new venture for me.”

Having only recently launched the project, Laura is already pleased with the support she is receiving.

Laura is currently asking for donations of new items such as socks, gloves, hats, scarves, games (card games, etc), toiletries and sweet treats like chocolate. She is also in need of hampers and is looking for donations of baskets or hampers to be used to store the goods.

Donations can be dropped off at The Crimble on Crimble Lane, Bamford and at Bearded Baristas on York Street, Heywood