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Maidstone Day Centre Lily Smith House Knightrider Street Maidstone ME15 6LP
Maidstone Christian Care first
opened a day centre at Lenworth House in 1995. It was the
progression of a soup run started in 1986. In July 2004
the new Maidstone Day Centre opened in Lily Smith House,
next door to English Churches’ hostel in
From
Monday to Friday the Day Centre provides hot food,
showers laundry facilities and resettlement support to
homeless and vulnerable men and women. We also operate an
outreach programme, Supporting People, for tenants of
Maidstone Housing Trust.
Maidstone
Day Centre’s first Christmas was special because of
all the support received from the Community. The Kent
Messenger’s ‘You Can Help’ campaign
brought in almost 10,000 items of food from participating
supermarkets, schools and churches. Volunteers kept fit
fetching and carrying from collection points around the
town.
John enjoying breakfast after a night sleeping rough
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As well as serving some excellent
hot meals including a traditional Christmas
dinner, we were able to stock up our cupboards
and give all of our men and women bags of food to
take away for when we were not open. We also
delivered food parcels to disadvantaged families
who otherwise would have had very little. Local
churches and schools brought in piles of
beautifully wrapped and carefully chosen presents
for our clients who enjoyed opening their parcels
and were reminded that somebody cared. |
Some
days after Christmas we discovered a teenager who
had been sleeping out in the park all over the
holiday because he was new to the area and had
nowhere to go. We were able to provide hot food,
a shower and organise accommodation for a couple
of nights but not to take away his feelings of
rejection. Our resettlement programme is there to
help people, just like this young man, to build
up their self esteem so that they are encouraged
to take charge of their lives. |
 Sharon catching up
with the news |
Chris in the dining room at Lily Smith House |
Starting soon – our Families
and Children Group which will offer support and
parenting advice. Special activities and outings
are planned for the families. Osteopaths from the |
Our
thanks to all the churches, schools, companies and
individuals who continue to support us and enable the
work to continue.
Everyone
at
www.homelessinmaidstone.org.uk