With the support of its customers and suppliers, including Whitesales and Marley, the branch was able to provide woolly hats, gloves, thermal mugs and scarfs to the Porch Day Centre in Oxford, a charity that provides day long support for the homeless and vulnerably housed people.
Chris Treadwell, SIG Roofing’s trade counter supervisor, said: “The Porch Day Centre is a fantastic local charity that helps people move forward in their lives away from street life and addiction.
“The work the team do at The Porch is absolutely second to none, so we are delighted to be able to do our bit and provide some essential cold weather clothing to such a great charity. Homelessness is a massive issue across the UK, not just in Oxford, so we are pleased we can lend some support.”
The Porch is one of the oldest day centres in Oxford, catering for up to 70 people a day, providing wholesome and nourishing food in a five-star hygiene-rated cafe, serving lunch and dinner. Visitors to the day centre have access to laundry facilities and showers, a free clothing store, a library and the Internet, along with a host of supports plans such as vocational skills training and employment support.
Lorraine Green, The Porch’s catering manager who recently received a High Sherriff Award for her inspirational commitment to the local community, commented: “As a charity, we rely on support from the community and local businesses to keep going. Without the random acts of generosity from businesses like SIG Roofing we wouldn’t be able to survive and provide a great service to the homeless.
“It’s a particularly difficult time of the year if you’re living on the streets, not just because of the freezing temperatures setting in, but also as its Christmas. The Porch supports those that need help the most, it’s like a family for many of our members who can come here into a safe environment and have access to a hearty meal and clean clothes. I’d like to thank SIG Roofing for its support, it’s fantastic!”
