...and what you can do to help them
Street food traders setting up hot-plates in the middle of town has become a familiar sight in recent years - but here’s one with a difference.
Community action group Homeless Leeds Support Group run three pop-up street-kitchens every week to provide Leeds City Centre’s homeless people with breakfast and hot drinks on cold winter mornings.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday between 9:30am and 12pm the group of 30 to 40 volunteers sets up portable barbecues and gas stoves in City Square to prepare fry-ups as well as serving breakfast cereal and hot drinks.
The group also runs two night kitchens, Tuesdays at Mill Hill Chapel, and Thursdays at City Square - both from 7pm - and in addition to food, they aim to provide sleeping bags and floor mats to help keep homeless people warm while sleeping on the streets.
With no official funding, the group relies on donations from people who support the cause, as well as local businesses - Greggs, Tesco, and Morrisons currently all donate surplus stock for the group to cook and distribute to those who need it, but more help is always appreciated.
David Hedley is an ex-army serviceman and the man behind Homeless Leeds Support Group, and wants to get to the point where they’re able to provide two meals a day, seven days a week.
If you’d like to help Homeless Leeds Support Group’s efforts, you can go along to any of the street kitchens and offer to lend a hand or donations of food or drink. There’s also a GoFundMe page and a JustGiving campaign that seek to raise money to help with costs incurred by stocking, storing, and distributing the kitchens.
For more information or to get involved, join the Homeless Leeds Support Group on Facebook.
