St Mungo’s continues to financially support the Bethany Care shelter (and van) as well as providing teams for both. The Care Shelter provides winter overnight accommodation for the homeless in Edinburgh – and has moved into the Old Waverley Hotel which is closed because of the coronavirus situation. It has extended its opening until the end of June, allowing guests to social distance in their own rooms. With lots of support available for the guests they hope to be able to move people on to more settled accommodation as quickly as possible.
With the extended opening, there are also more catering dates. The catering cannot be done on site at the hotel (insurance problems) which is making the meal provision more complicated. The fridges etc in the hotel can be used which helps. Do pray for the teams as they manage this and the transportation of the food between buildings.
Bethany is asking for donations – of men’s casual clothing and some food items such as boxes of cereal (not Cornflakes), jam (not marmalade), fruit, diluting juice, coffee, tea, sugar, crisps and individually wrapped biscuits. Also any novels in a foreign language (they have plenty in English), single person board games, jigsaw puzzles, puzzle books or art supplies. Contact careshelter@bethanychristiantrust.com with offers.
They also need volunteers to help with housekeeping on a Saturday or Sunday. As alternative accommodation is found for the guests and they move on, the rooms they have been staying in need cleaned. Unfortunately, the hotel staff are not there on the weekends to do this and extra help is needed. If you would be willing to help for a couple of hours to get rooms ready for new guests on a Saturday or a Sunday please contact careshelter@bethanychristiantrust.com with offers.
Lastly, if you can please pray that all the above needs will be provided for, that Bethany can give the best support needed to the guests and also for the wellbeing of guests, staff and volunteers.